Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-07-02
SYMPTOMS OF GENUINE CHOLERA.
The Experience OF an Eminent Doctor In
CONFERENCE.-The.


us a copy of an article of great length on
the symptoms and treatment of cholera.
For those away from prompt medical aid
it will be valuable and interesting:
CLEVELAND, June 10, 1873.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: The cholera hav-
ing made its appearance at the capitol of
our State it is natural that our people will
all feel anxious to know something of the
proper treatment and management of this
most dreadful disease. BY your permission,
/ will reproduce, and give to the readers of
your paper, in its columns, letter written
Saturday, March 3, 1866, by DIR. Hamlin,
who was for many years Missionary of
the American Board at Constantinople.
His practice extended through three visi-
tations of this dreadful disease in lS4S, 1855
and 1865. His suggestions are so simple,
we think they may. be of great benefit to
the people generally if the cholera should
become prevalent in our country, The
Doctor says: Having been provdenti-
ally compelled to have good degree of
practical acquaintance with the cholera,
and to see it. all its forms and stages dur
ing each of its invasions of Constantine
pie, L wish to make some suggestions
which may relieve great deal of anxiety,
and be, at the same time of practical use.
LIST. On the approach of cholera, every
family should be prepared to treat it with
out waiting for a physician. 1t zdoes its
work so expeditiously, that while you are
waiting for the doctor it is done.
I'd. II you prepare for it, it will not
come. | think there is no disease which
may be avoided with so much certainty as
the cholera. But providential circum-
stances, or the thoughtless indiscretion of
some member of household, may invite
the attack and the invitation will never be
refused. 1t will probably be made in the
night, your physician has been called in
another direction, and you must treat the
case yourself or 1t will prove fatal.
CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS.
Sd. Causes Of dttac6.-I have PERSONAL
Iy Investigated at least a hundred cases,
and not less than three-fourths could be
traced to improper diet, or to Intoxicating
drinks, OF to both united. OF the remain
ing causes, suppressed perspiration would
comprise a large number. y strong
healthy, temperate laboring man had Sc
we're attack of cholera, after the danger was
passed, l was DESTROYS to ascertain the cause.
He used nothing intoxicating. He had
been cautious and prudent in his diet, and
his residence was i'll good locality. But
after some hours of hard labor and very
profuse perspiration, he had lain down to
take his customary nap right under and
against an open window through which
a UerY REFRESHING breeze aCaS bLOWiag.
Another land not atnyrequen0 cause, is
drinking too freely of cold water when
hot and thirsty. Great fatigue, great
of1ciety, fright, and fear, all figure among
the melting causes. If one can avoid all
these, he is as safe from cholera as the
earth is from being swept away by a
comet.
4th. Symptoms of an attack.-While
cholera is prevalent in a place, almost ev-
cry one experiences more or less disturb
ances of digestion. 1t is doubtless in part
imaginary. Every one notices the slight
est variation of feeling, and this gives i'm
portance 10 mere tritles. There are often
slight nausea, accompanied with tran
silent pains, and rumbling sounds, when
no dttdcE tOH0US. No one is entirely
free from these. But when diarrhma
commences, though painless and slight,
1t should at once receive attention.
COURSE OF TREATMENT.
1st. For Stopping the Incipient Diar-
hed.-The mixture which / used in lS4S
with great success, and again in 1855, has
during this epidemic, in 1865, been used
by thousands, and although attacks .have
been unusually sudden and violent, it has
fully sustained its already established rep
utation for efficiency and perfect safety.
1t consists of equal parts, by measure, of
l. Laudanum and spirits of camphor >.
Tincture rhubarb. Thirty drops for an
adult on lump of sugar, will often check
the diarrhea. But to prevent its return,
care should always be taken to continue
the medicine every four hours in dimin-
ishing doses-twenty-five twenty, fifteen,
ten, nine, &c., when careful diet is all that
Will be needed.
In case the first dose does not stay the
diarrhea, continue to give in increasing
doses-thirty-five, forty, forty-five, to six
ty, at every movement of the bowels
Large doses will produce no injury while
the diarrhea lasts. When that is checked
then is the time for caution. / have never
seen case of diarrhea, taken in season,
which was not thus controlled but some
cases of advanced diarrhea, and especially
of relapse, paid no heed to it what
ever. As soon as this becomes apparent
have always resorted to this course. Pre-
pare n teacup of starch boiled as for use
in starching linen, and stir into it full
teaspoonful of laudanum, for an injection
give one-third at each movement of the
bowels. In one desperate case, abandoned
as hopeless by physician, l could not ar.
rest the diarrhma until the seventh injec-
ton, which contained nearly teaspoonfu
of laudanum. The patient recovered, and
is now enjoying perfect health. At the
same time / used prepared chalk in ten
grain doses, with a few drops oflaudanum
and camphor to each. But whatever
course is pursued, it must be followed up
and tie diarrhea controlled or the patient
is lost.
ID. Mustard pOuLices.-These should be
applied 10 the stomach and bowels anC
kept on till the surface is well Redeemed.