New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-07
MET AND DTSRASE.

Physicians usually class under the head OF
Cholera these three diseases: cholera morDus,
Asiatic cholera and cholera infantum. lhe
symptoms of the first two very much resemble
each other. But they are entirely different dis
orders The nature of Asiatic cholera is as yet
undetermined medical men do not even agree
that it is communicable by means of atmo-
Sphere, telluric, magnetic, electrical, or other
Influences. On the other hand, cholera morbus
IA usually traced to easily determined local
causes. Of these the chief is improper food
Unripe or Over-ripe fruit, green and lndlgestiole
vegetables, so likely to be eaten freely at this
season of the year. are chaTgeable with more OF
the cases of so called cholera than any other cause
of disease. Of course, imperfect ventilation OF
babitatiOns, uDcleanly habits, and other con-
ditions of living, are ready helpers towards
disease and death but an unwhOlesome diet
is more to be dreaded than any one of these
common invitations to the cholera and cholera
morbus. When the epidemic cholera is
prevalent, it is common to see the cholera
mOrbus putting on many more OF the symptoms
of tho dreaded pestilence than is usual. Even
when, as now, the true Asiatic cholera is
far off. there are not wanting those who are
eager to pronounce every case OF acute cholera
morbus TO be the genuine epidemic disorder.
Unlearned physicians, timid people, and wonder
loving oldwives are ready to spread the alarm.
By a sort of chOleraphobia, people are predis-
posed to attacks from the disease when 1t does
come: and weak-mnded ignorant persons, who
are most apt to be surrounded by other unfa-
yorable conditions fall easy victims at the first
approach of the pestilence.
Every year we have early and frequent
"well-defned and unmistakable cases of " Ash
"atic cholera" Last Summer there was one
which caused a painful sensation in certain
questionable quarters of the city. A young
woman died suddenly and the CONSERVATION
which pervaded the region where she had lived
was very great People were certain that she
died of Asatic cholera the case was as well
defined as any of that Summer. Careful ex-
animation, to be sure, showed that she had,
after a hard days Washing, partaken freely of
corned beef, cabbage, green beans, and whisky,
and had finished her repast with the greater
part of four large melons. This was a clear
case. The first notable alarm this year has
come from a somewhat similar cause.
On the Fourth of July, man died
IN the western pdrb VI IHo Clty VI
a complaint which the attending physician
certified as genuine Asiatic cholera. Inquiry
developed these facts: the man had been af-
flicted with the usual Summer sickness for
nearly three weeks; he had meanwhile eaten
often of cucumbers, and on the day before
his death he had partaken of cucumbers, ice
cream and ale. This, too, was a clear case.
But it is just as unreasonable to charge either
of these deaths to the Asiatc cholera as
to speak of an early death from
tight lacing and thin shoes "as q dark dispen-
"sation of Providence" There is nothing
dark about any of these fatal cases. 1t is "a
great mistake to class disease induced by
improper diet as an epidemic. 1t is just as
great an error to run into excuses of various
kinds and charge the consequences to any
epidemic. We have no Asiatic cholera in or
near this city. We shall have much suffering
and many deaths from cholera mOrbus unless
people live wholesomely, forswear intemper-
ance, and keep clean within and without.