Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-12
RATIONAL VIEWS ON CHOLERA
AND DIARRHEA.

SECTION 3, Regulate your habits, prac-
tice temperance, chastity and cleanG-
ness, ventilate your houses, purify the
air by the removal Of all impurities or
the use Of active disinlectants, do not
withdraw the usual amount of stimuli
from the system, make no special change
in diet or drinks, if you have not been
intemperate in their use, and above all,
attend to all cases Of disrrhea at its com
mencement
If any member Of your family should
have diarrhea, give some appropriate
medicine to check it, mild remedies being
far preferable,
The majority of cholera patients first
experience simple diarrhea they pay
no attention to it, continuing to eat and
drink as usual, and persist in neglecting
it until the disease becomes aggravated,
and then, it is frequently too late. Diar.
rhea is often nothing but cholera in its
incipiency, and if not properly attended
to, may prove fatal. Let us impress
upon you the Importance Of prompt and
early attention. Nip the disease while
in the bud. Resort to your family ply
sician, or administer some reliable medi'
cine, which we shall speak Of hereafter.
During the summer months no family
should fail TO keep always on hand a
bottle of some approved diarrhea remedy
to be used at a moments warning in
case Of emergency.
1t might be advisable, and no doubt
very beneficial, for the Board of Mayor
and Aldermen to appoint committee
or Board of Physicians, whose duty 1t
shall be to visit each and every dwelling
in the city aud ascertain their true SAN
itary condition by personal examina-
ton of the premises; to order the imme-
date removal Of all impurities to
recommend disinfectants and to advise
how they shall be used to advise in
regard to ventilation, cleanliness and
diet; to report the condition OF all
streets and alleys, and all imperfect
sewerage and drainage; to inquire OF
each family the number of cases OF diar-
rhea and the Importance OF giving 1t
immediate attention, either by the use
of proper remedies or by sending for
physician and if cases of charity prac-
tice present themselves, to prescribe and
furnish medicine for all such cases, and
in every other way to teach the inhablt-
ants what to do and not to do, and also
teaching them more prophylactics and
less therapeutics. Ifthis is done at all,
it should not be delayed, as golden mo-
ments are being lost,
Treatment Of Cholera and Dtarrhed
Notwithstanding the untiring and united
exertions and skill of the sblest, wisest
and most experienced physicians of the
land. the mortality of cholera continues
frightful, bidding defiance to the best
endeavors, 10 give relief During its
prevalence among US, every passing
breeze whispered the. death of fellow
being.
Cannot this blighting hand Of disease
be partially paralyzed Are there no
means by which its terrors and horrors
may be abaied2 Prejudices should be
buried, and calm reason aud Judgment
act as our guides
The beacon lights OF other days, peer
ing their lofty heads above the turmoils
of lite. should aid US in resouing our
fellow.men from that dreadful scourge
which has numbered its victims by the
million.
Routine practice should be discarded /;
il Il dangerous in the extreme. lf we
should oppose the loved and cherished
opinions Of older physicians, It wall be
Al the instance of an unfinching duty,
which We iniend to present fairly and
squarely, aud II any wish 70 eontroveTt
or dispute or disagree, we hope he will
have the manliness Bsd confidence 70
present his views publicly. We should
! ike 10 know the answer Of each physician
to the following question:
III cholera should again make its ap-
pearance in oar midst, iroHld q Be erpe-
dieaf 10 resort 70 ne same treatment as
fhsf generally urged and Prdcticed last
summeri What vas the nature Of that
treatnent7 II icds sfimuldfihg from
bcgfuuinq % end, and We defy any one
10 Dispute The fact
Sfimulaiion was the hobby Of phys
clan and paGoat, and many rode . 70
eternity. lt vas nc practice here, ss
ven as elsewhere There was really q
| raging. consuming mania among All
classes fur stimulation Many wildly
| spd franticaliT poured ii down without
" d "a