Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-14
AN ACCOUNT OF CHOLERA AT
NASHVILLE IN 1873.

The Nashville journal of Medicine and
Surgery for August contains a lengthy pa
per from DR.. w. K. Bowling, entitled,
"The Cholera on its Late Rampage"
which, with some additional facts, will be
published in few days in pamphlet with
the title, can Account of the Cholera as it
Appeared at Nashville in the Year 1873"
DR.. Bowling hiss performed very accept
able service to the public as well as the
medical profession, in writing and publish
ing this account of the late visitation OF
cholera TO our city. Such information as
he supplies in the paper before us YVES
greatly needed to determine the nature of
the grim visitor as it appeared here, and the
character and geological formation of the
''spots" or districts in which it delighted to
revel. Before facts theories fall like grass
under the scythe of the mower, and many
CT the theories heretofore held Gas gospel
truths" in regard to where cholera has been
most fatal in Nashville, will be dissipated
by the stern logic of facts adduced by Dr.
Bowling. Touching the
APPEARANCE OF CHOLERA IN OUR CITY,
the Doctor says:
"The late epidemic began here during the
last days of May, at the elimination of the
Exposition iurore. The city was crowded
to suffocaticn, and the trains from every
where to everywhere were burdened with
human beings, coming to or going from
the show Suddenly, on the last week of
May, physicians would stop each other on
the street and inquire, with long visages,
Anything strange 10 your practice% well,
we always have cholera morbus here in late
spring. l said to many who asked me this
question. The people began to whisper of
strange cases, ending in desth, they had
heard of About this time the regular
monthly meeting of the City Society came
on Dune 81, and the subjsc5 of cholera was
ventilated. We presided at the meeting,
and agreed with all that 10 cholera was in
Nashville, and an account of the meeting
was reported to the city papers. Still the
inquiry was ever returning, 60 where you
would, SIS there anything suspic GUS in
your practice? Mr.. j., No. 10 North
Summer steet, in the very heart of the
city, had diarrboel on the 10Th of May, on
the 29th had vomiting, cramps, and COLI
quative diarrbpl, and died.
son the same day MAY 29), Mrs. John
son, colored, living On Front street, near
Dickey's mill, took a purging at 2 P. NJ,
quickly followed by vomiting and cramp,
and ending in death at p. NJ. This pro-
duced great CONSERVATION in that neighbor-
hood.
"The death of some negroes near Hack
berry Spring, between Market and Front
streets, in the low lands, was reported about
the same time.
"On the LIST day of June, a little white
girl, who staid at fruit stand near the
post-office, in the centre of the city, sick
ened with diarThea, and went to her board
irg house on Union street, between Sum-
mer and High, where she had vomiting and
cramps, and was soon in a state of collapse.
l saw this case with DR.. Hughes. She died
in q few hours.
"On this day, colOred woman died with
the above symptoms on High street, near
Broad. She was seen by DR.. Menees. i
sOn the 4th Of June, Mrs. j. and child
died at l66 North Summer street. This is
near the centre of the city.
"During these first days of June, DIR.
McMurrsy and DR.. Stephens reported sew
eral cases to me in the neighborhood of the
brewery, on High street, and the region be-
yond. visited one there with DIR. Nc
Murray. The patient wac stout lsbo ing
man, 63 years of sge. He had no pulse,
was cold, and believed with slippery
flui :. His eyes were sunken, and his
ands sodden and corrugated. He was
perfectly Intelligent. II I'd eaten cabbage and
potatoes, being perfectly well. Shortly az
ter purged a2d threw up-potatoes, as be
swallowed them, passed through him. He
had had cramps, and had passed no water
for SIX hours. DR.. McMurray had seen
bin, and dered medicine, some hours be-