Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-14

1 kCnCitL1IN O!llCu thO f,AS>as' .'t -
that can be inflicted on the inbabi-
tants of city. 1t begets confidence
only to betray, and promises health
only to destroy. To be convinced Of
this, let any one follow up a gang of
street cleaners, they are ignorant of
the purpose for which they are work
ing, or they wantonly disregard it,
thereby injuring the public health.
Unless this grievance be remedied We
look in vain to see bilious malaria
banished.
Never in my life have I seen city
under q police, that would take the
trouble to enforce proper cleansing.
No city can be healthy unless water is
made to flow along its cutters several
hours during the day. There is purity
in the idea, and it is pleasing to the
sight, it takes away gloom, which is
conducive to health Be it known that
there is a much stronger connexiOn
between internal and external purity
than is generally imagined, the one is
the natural expression of the other,
and they impart to each other mutual
strength. a.i
When malaria is already formed,
how may its effects on the human
economy be most certainly obviated,
or in other words how may the inhabi-
tants of a city or country most surely
preserve their health? Were these ques-
tions asked me, I would answer hon.
estly, withdraw from the affected dis
trict. But suppose your situation or
business would not permit? To such /
would say, that it is maxim of pathol-
Ogy during the prevalence of endemic
or epidemic diseases, that every per-
son is liable to the disease, and moth
ing hut an exciting cause is needed
for its production. l am Dled what
do yOu mean by an exciting cause, my
reply is, avoid excesses, do nothing
that is not in harmony with the laws Of
nature. Some of the most powerful
causes are fatigue, improper exposure,
and intemperance, transition from n
heated to moist atmosphere, the
evening dews more especially, in a
lying posture, cold currents Of air,
weakening blows, an inOrdinate abuse
of the passions generally, more es-
pecially fear, long continued study,
to these add excessive eating and
drinking, detection of mind, swallow
ing nauseus medicines, such say are
some of tho exciting causes to be
avoided: IT aperson escapes an epi-
demic he owes to mother nature a
gratitude that he should not abuse.
But if on the other hand he breaks her
laws, and he suffers thereby, he must
not blame the generous matron that
gave hlm his existence,
The next question that arises, are
there any medicinal substances that
will obviate the effects of bilious
malaria? 1 know of none. All nos
trums that are administered for that
purpose are but the fruits of empi-
ricism. Some physicians speak OF
cathartics in protecting the system
from the malaria. l consider the
opinion unfounded, and the practice
hazardous, not to say highly injuri-
GUS if the eruption does not quickly
disappear,
The same is true of adults as re-
lates to bilious fever. Individuals
who labor under elephantiasis
escape from the fever of hot
climates. Such 1 tell you are truths,
and the reason must be clear to
every one who has investigated
physiology. What then would be
the effect of preternatural excite
ment of the skin, produced inten-
tionally as means of prevention
during tho prevalence of yellow
fever? l cannot speak from per-
sonal experience of this remedy, but
will add, they tend towards the
maintainance of centrifugal action
which goes far in preventing disease;
under proper regulation, they may
he found worthy of trial. 1 was
talking with a lady the other day
who spoke about the application Of
hot mustard in yellow fever, was
astonished at the beauty of her
treatment knowing at the same time
she was ignorant of its nationality.
My advice to all who are SO unfor-
tunate as to take on yellow fever,
provide yourself with a good native
nurse, she will bring You ont if your
days are not numbered. Medical
men may smile, but when a family is
wrapped in sables, there is regret
on their conntenance; they could do
the same thing if they would follow
up nature, the proud fool dubbed
with the doctorate attempts to
measure arms with his God.
Science does not countenance
them and they get no support from
experience. The use of Peruvian
bark, Guinea and a great many other
things have been recommended as a
security against bilious epidemics.
This advice does not rest on any
sound hygenic principle that am
acquainted with, nor as far as 1 am
informed, does testify to the success
OF the practice it enjoins.
therefore cannot cOnfide in its
efficacy. By inducing al unnatur-
al state of things, which l appre-
hend must sooner or later be min
rious. a degree of cutaneous excite
ment somewhat preternatural, but
not so as t. amount to disease would
promise some sc"nrisy.
Children vii. prickly heat es-