The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-09-23
NUMBER SO
CHOLERA-INFANTUM.
BY AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

Cholera-infantum is one of the most
fatal diseases of childhood in our large
towns. Although quite unlike Asiatic
cholera, it derives its name from the
similarity of some of its symptoms to
those of genuine cholera in the adult.
1t is disease of hot weather in cities,
the mortality rising and falling with
the thermometer. With the first
changes of temperature from spring to
summer, the mortality begins to rise,
reaches its maximum in July and Au-
gust, and does not disappear until sum-
mer heats yield to the cooler tempera-
ture of autumn. Not unfrequently the
deaths from cholera-infantum in our
cities will increase four-fold In a single
week, on the sudden rise of tempera-
ture. Such has been the case during
the present summer in New York.
On examining the records of NOR
tality, we are struck with the fact that
eholera-infantum is disease of the
earliest periods of infantile life. Last
year 119S children died of this disease in
New York of this number, S75 were
under one year of age, 273 were be-
tween one and two, 40 between two
and three, 6 between three and four,
between four and five, and but one over
five. If, therefore n child survive its
first year, its chances of escaping chol-
era-infantum are three times greater at
five it enjoys an immunity equal to the
adult.
AS most of the cases of this disease
occur in infants under two years of age,
ii is apparent that this period Of life is
peculiarly obnoxious to such attacks. 1t
is the period of greatest activity in
physical development; the teeth ap-
pear, and these are indications of i'm
cha m IN Il Two
The child changes its infantilc habits,
and begins to eat solid food; the head
grows rapidly, aud the nervous system
is largely developed, and becomes unu-
sually sensitive. Heat is another factor
in the causation of this disease. With
the gradual rise of temperature the
mortality increases, and eliminates in
the weeks of greatest heat. The effect
of the heat on the infant is doubtless
that of exhaustion or depression, espec-
tally of the nervous system. But it is
evident that this heat, to produce its
full effect, must be more or less cOntin-
uous; if for several hours in the day
the heat is very great, and then the tenn
perature falls and the air becomes cool,
the system RECEIVERS from its depression.
If we examine carefully the statistics
of mortality from cholera infantum, we
find, first, that it is almost limited to
cities 4; second, that in cities it is most
frequent in dcnsely populated districts
and, third, that i'll these districts, it is
most fatal in the large and overcrowed
tenement houses. 1t is i'll those houses
that there is the least possible Ventila-
ton, and the range Of the thermometer
is very slight; during the hot weather
it reaches high point, and falls but lit
tie at night. Imperfect ventilation in
crowed apartments implies Initiated air,
and if we add high heat, we know that
the air is vitiated with the carnations
of decomposing animal and vegetable
matter. We have, therefore, as the
causes which predispose to cholera-in-
fantum the most susceptible period of
life and an Overheated atmosphere, this
latter charged with poisonous gases.
To these conditions are generally SUI
peradded an exciting cause-namely,
indigestible food. Infants reared by
hand are far more liable to this disease
than nurslings. 1t is always a matter
of extreme nicely TO prepare the in
fant's food, and during the hot months
this difficulty is greatly increased The
materials become sour or undergo 9TH
er changes which render them less di-
gestible and far more irritating to the
stomach and bowels. 1t is not diff
cult to foretell the fate of infants plac-
ed under the conditions above given.
A mild diarrhea begins, which does
not excite alarm until it suddenly be-
comes severe, with vomiting and rapid
emaciation or a profuse diarrhea, with
vomiting, mark the outset, attended
with great prostration. The discharges
from the bowels may at first contain
much fHcal matter; but soon there is
title observed but a thin, watery sub
stance which saturates the diaper and
clothes. The vomiting follows every
attempt TO take tood and drink, while
at the same time, the thirst is excessive
The disease generally terminates i'll
from three or four days to as many
weeks; and during that short period,
the changes which take place in the APP
pearance of the child are remarkable:
its eyes sink in their sockets, and re-
main partly open when sleeping the
cheeks fall away and the bones become
prominent the mouth is drawn down
tightly to the teeth, and the skin hangs
i'll wrinkles about the once round and
plump limbs. 1t lies in its cradle help
less and Indifferent, uttering cries and
means of Il plaintive character. Con-
vulsions may finally close the scene, or
the sufferer may sink away through
sheer exhaustion.
The true remedy is the immediate re-
deed, no bottle-fed child should remain
in the city during the summer when I'M
der one year of age. The immediate
remedies are such as allay the excessive
irritation of the stomach and bowels,
and sustain the strength. The first in
dication is best secured by providing a
good wet-nurse, if the child is handled.
If the nurse cannot be obtained the
food must be prepared with the grc8 :
est care. Goats or cows milk, fresh, is
perhaps the best substitute. The food
of the nurseling must be given in small
quantities, or entirely withheld for
few hours. 1t is worse than useless to
urge food upon a stomach which in
stantly rejects it. Water must be given
very sparingly, as it is scarcely tolerat-
ed. OF the simple domestic remedies,
Iime-water, and when the skin is cool
few drops of brandy, allay irritation
and sustain the circulation. The lime
water should be given with or immedi-
ately after the food, half teaspoonful
diluted with milk. Brandy should be
given, diluted with water, five to fifteen
drops, and repeated every two or three
hours, unless the skin is hot Warm
applications of spirits to the bowels re-
lieve the pain.
The most important measure to be
adopted is the removal of the child to a
place where it will have pure and in
vigorating air. The effect of this
change is often surprising. The little
sufferer, taken from the city upon fer
ry-boat for two or three hours, will |
cease vomiting and purging until it re-
turns to its home, when all severe |
symptoms Immediately recur Thous-
ands of children could be saved annual |
ly, among the poor of our cities, i'll
means were provided-for their care du- |
ring the hot months in the country.
The principal singer of the MarseiI- |
laise in Paris now is Madamoiselie Ter |
esa. A correspondent describes her ap-
peaTance as follows:
E'This girl is the bean ideal of street |
heroine of the first revolution. She |
wore a red frock, a blue corset and |
white scarf; her sleeves were rolled up, |
just like a washerwoman coming from |