Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-05
NUMBER 45.
THE CHOLERA.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR IT'S APPROACH.

III. Qdlullll, lOI ildny years Il ulSSlOLdIy
of the American Board at Constantinople,
has furnished to the Christian Mirror an
account of his very successful treatment Of
! the cholera in that city. His practice has
extended through three visitations of this
dreaded disease, in l848, 1855, and 1865.
| The suggestions are 50 simple that we pub
| lish them, in the hope that tney will do
good, if the cholera should visit and become
prevalent in the United States.
DEAR SIR : The cholera, which has just
left us after committing fearful ravageS, IS
making its way into Europe, and will prob
ably cross the Atlantic before another sum-
mer has passed.
Having been providentially compelled to
have good degree Of physical acquain-
tance with it, and to see il in all its forms
and stages during each of it's invasions OF
Constantinople, | wish tomake to my friends
in Maine some suggestions which may re-
lieve anxiety or be Of practical use.
lst. On the approach Of cholera every
family should be prepared to treat it with
ont waiting for a physician. 1t does its
work so expeditiousIy that, while you are
waiting for the doctor, it is done.
! 2 If you prepare for it, it will not come,
| think there is no disease which may be
| avoided with SO much certainty as the chol
era. But Providential circumstances, or
! the thoughtless indiscretions of some mem
| Der Of household, may invite the attack
and the challenge will never be refused
! 1t will probably be made in the night, your
| physician has been called in another direct
| ion, and you must treat the case yourself
! or it prove fatal.
CAURE AND SYMPTOMS.
/ g. Causes Of 0ttach.-l have personally
! investigated at least hundred cases, and
not less than threefourths could be traced
! directly to improper diet or Intoxicating
. drinks, or both united. OF the remainder,
suppressed pcTspiration would comprise
large number. \ strong, healthy, temper
ate laboring man had a severe attack of
cholera, and after the danger had passed /
was curious to ascertain the cause. He
had been cautious and prudent in his diet.
He used nothing Intoxicating His resi-
| dence was in a good locality. But after
some hours of hard labor and very profuse
/ perspiration he had lain down to take his
| customary nap right against an open win
dow through which a reJ'y refreshing breeze
lcas h0lcing. Another cause is drinking
/ largely of cold water when hot and thirsty
Great fatigue, great anxiety, fright, fear
! all figure among melting causes. If one
can avoid all these, he is as safe from the
cholera as from being swept away by
comet
! T. Symptoms Of an ottGcL,-Whie chol-
era is prevalent i'll a place almost every
one experiences more or less disturbance of
! digestion 1t is doubtless in part imagin-
| airy. Every one notices the slightest vari-
alton of feeling, and this gives an impor-
! tance to mere trifles. There are often a
| slight nausea, or transient pains, or rumb-
| ling sounds, when no attack t0iiOlcS No
one is entirely free from these. But when
! diarrhga commences, though painless and
| slight, it is in reality the skirmishing party
of the advancing column. it will have at
! first no single character of ASiatic cholera
But do not be deceived. 1t is the cholera
nevertheless Wait little, give it time to
| get hold, say 10 yourself, - feel perfectly
well, it will soon pass off = and in short
time you will repent Of your folly in vain
| have seen many a one commit suicide in
this way.
Sometimes, though rarely, the attack
commences with vomiting. But in what
ever way it commences, it is sure to hold on.
In very few hours the patient may sink
into the collapse. The hands and feet be-
come cold and purplish, the counter ancc, at
| first nervous and anxious, becomes gloomy
and pathetic, although a mental restless
ness and raging thirst torment the sufferer
| while the powers of life are ebbing. The
intellect remains clear, but all the social
and moral feelings seem wonderfully TO
| collapse with the physical powers. The pa
tient knows he is to die but cares not a
snap about It.
In some cases, though rarely, the diarr-
hma continues for day or two, and the
foolish person keeps about, then suddenly
sinks, sends for the physician, and before
| he arrives "dies as the fool dieth"
COURSE OF TREATMENT.
/. For Stopping the Mcipiem Diamhea--
The mixture which | used in lS4S with
great success, and again in 1855, has du-
ring the epidemic been used by thousands,
and although the attacks have been more
sudden and violent, it has fully established
its reputation for efficiency and perfect safe
| ty. 1t consists of equal parts by measure,
of one laudanum and spirits of camphor
two tincture of rhubarb. Thirty drops for
adult, on lump OF sugar, will often check
/ the diarrh&a. But to prevent its return
care should always be taken to continue
the med cine every four hours in diminish
ing doses twenty-five, twenty, fifteen, ten,
nine, when careful diet is all that will be
needed.
In case the first does not stay the diar-
haa, continue to give in increase doses
thirty-fve, forty-ive, sixty-at every move
ment of the bowels Large doses will pro-
duce no injury while the darahaa lasts
When that is checked then is the time for
caution. have never seen a case of diar-
rhaa taken in season which was not thus
controlled, but some cases of advanced d.
arrhaa, and especially of relapse, paid no
heed to it whatever AS soon as this be.
comes apparent | have alwas resorted to
this course Prepare teacup of starch
boiled as for use in starching linen, and
stir into it full teaspoonful of laudanun
for an injection. Give one-third at eaci
movement of the bowels In one desperate
case, abandoned as hopeless by physi
clan. could not stop the diarrhaa unit
the seventh injection, which contained near
| ly a tnaSnoOnfull pf land pnD, Tho M tiopt