Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-14


before stated, become the selected objects
OF its attack, however widely they may
be scattered, and without regard to theil
possibilities Of communicating with each
other; it is sufficient that they are inelu-
ded in the ChoIeraic atmosphere.
Cholera is never brought me II
passengers sailing from u port of France,
where the epidemic prevails, arrive in an
American port, whittier it has not yet
come, bringing with them the germs of the
disease alive in their own system, those
germs will not grew and spread in tbeneW
and healthy air, but will wither and die
out for wan of their natural pabulum-
the Choleraic atmosphere.
But if that atmosphere accompanies
them, then the germs will flourish and be
p~ropagated. This is why the cholera did
not extend in London in 1881, or New
York in ls4s, although it had been intro
duced, and persons had been exposed to
its Infection The cases had been brought.
but the epidemic had not orriped. On the
other hand, at spread like wildfre in
Paris, in 1882" because the epidemic
brought its ewn eases along with it. But
the presence of the eholeraic atmosphere
is an essential condition of the spread
of cholera. Without it, a few isolated
cases of aggravated cholera morbus, in in
dividuals rendered peculiarly susceptible
and sympathetic by their local and per-
sonal accidents, are the worst that need be
feared, and we believe that such examples
OF Cholera Morbus, occurring during the
prevalence of an actual epidemic consti-
tute a large proportion of the whole num-
Der of cases counted as true Cholera.
Upon a prepared system it is most natu-
raj that the iercer disease should beget
its kind, even though the progeny may be
of weaker powers.
HINTS TO H SANITARY BOARDS.
1t is curious that when the attendants
employed about cholera cases in the fe-
brile state are attacked, they are never
seized with ordinary fever, but with a gen
uine cold blue cholera. Nothing, there
fore, is more certain than that persons
may arrive in our ports apparently labor
ing under common feyerish 'n~disposition,
who really are suffering under cholera in
the febrile stage.
DIR. Lefevre observed that the epidemic
cholera, On its first invasion, battles all at
tempts TO conquer it but that it gradually
loses its intensity, and towards its de-
cline becomes as traetable as other dis
orders of the alimentary canal" Many
other observers have particularly noted
that the deaths are everywhere most nu-
merous, in proportion to the whole num-
Der attacked, at the commencement of an
invasion.
In crowded, filthy, and il~l-ventilated
places, where the exciting causes are &C.
lively combined against the health Of all
who are exposed to their influence, the
disease takes an apparently infectious
character, tending still further to propa-
gate If, and aggravate the alarm.
Those who have practiced abstinence
from the use of wine, beer and ardent
spirits, should not have recourse to them
in the hope of Tending off the Cholera.
Nor should those who have habitually and
freely INDUCED in the use of them, sud
denly and completely abstain. In either
case the experiment is a dangerous one.
The following remarks of n late writer
are especially worthy of attention.
"Excesses and extremes of all kinds
predispose to cholera. Excessive filth does
so. So does excessive bathing, with a view
to extreme cleanliness; for It reduces the
heat of the body and debilitates the sys-
TEN. The inordinate use of either animal
or vegetable food is a p~redisposing cause.
But SO, most emphatically, is fasting or
abstinence, especially as regards animal
food. The fearful mortality from cholera
in Paris, in 1882, occurred during the fast
ing of Lent. Nothing like it occurred at
any other period. In a part of Louisiana
where nearly all the people are Roman
Catholic, the mortality in a cholera cpl
demic was q%uadrupled during and after a
three days fast"
In publieand private, ehecrfulness should
be promoted by every decent device
on the streets by gay processions-in the
parks by bands of music and moderately
exhilerating pastimes-in dwellings, BY
music, games, t~ableaux, &c.-everywhere,
by the various attractions Of places of ra-
tional amusement. Public Journals
should stand with a hopeful and encour-
aging face between the pestilence and the
people, and children and nervous persons
should not be permitted to read
or talk about the Cholera at
all. Food, clothing, warm water,
water, and consolation should be freely
distributed among the poor. Soup, soap,
flannel, and smiles will do as much good
as temperance tracts and Cholera bulle-
tins.