The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-01
Correspondence.
ChoIera-Its Symptoms and Treatment

JHOleTH-IlS SlHplOHiS anu lIohthOh''
Editor Register and Journal: We
cannot reasonably hope to escape the
cholera which is pervading Europe,
but we may so prepare for it as to nit
igate or counterfeit its force. | have
fought it hand to hand in many hun
dreds of cases in five successive inva-
sions of Constantinope. | can say
with confidence that if one will watch
the symptoms of attack it is then the
most easily managed of all diseases
The following letter in substance was
furnished many years since to the
Christian Mirror of Portland, and very
widely copied into the papers of the
day. | send you copy, slightly con-
densed, that anxious families may
know what to do in case of attack
while waiting for the doctor. These
directions are the result of long-contin-
ued and oft-repeated trial and not of
medical science and skill. Send for the
doctor, but don't die before he can
come. BE prepared to confront the
enemy and not give him immediate
possession.
JuUSBS ~ UttUCh'-l udNC pei oOiihhJ
investigated many cases with regard to
the melting cause. Improper food or
Intoxicating drinks, or both together,
will stand for three-fourths. Exposure
to a cold draft while in perspiration,
great fatigue, great anxiety, fear, ter
rOr, all figure among melting causes.
If one can avoid all these he is as safe
from the cholera as he is from Encke's
comet. | take for granted that the
sanitary condition of the dwelling or
shop is made perfect.
Symptoms Of an attack. Above all
diseases cholera gives at least few
hours quiet and friendly notice of its
approach to the individual. 1t is in
the form of painless diarrhPa. The
patient feels perfectly well and with an
incredible blindness will often hide or
deny the fact that he has that Fremont
tory symptom. 1t will at first have no
single characteristic of Asiatic cholera.
Wait little. 1t is the skirmishing
party of the advancing column and
you will soon repent of your folly. l
have seen many one commit suicide
in this way. Sometimes, though rare
", this painless diarrhGa continues for
day or two and then the attack is
made in force, and the patient dies, as
fool deth. In the case of I'M emper-
ate persons the attack is often sudden
and violent and fatal. This disease
riots in the haunts of drunkenness and
vice and gathers strength to stalk forth
as destroyer. Detect the first svmp-
toms, and with prompt action you have
nothing to fear.
Course Of Heatment.-The first thing
is to stop the incipient diarrhWa. The
mixture which | used in 1913, 50, 60,
II, with great success, and which is
one OF the most valuable of family
medicines, to be kept in every house.
hold and the carpetbag of every trav-
eler, is composed of equal parts, by
measure, of laudanum, tncture OF
rhubarb and spirits of camphor.
Thirty drops for an adult on a lump
of sugar will often check the diarrhGa,
In order to prevent its return care
should be taken to repeat the dose in
diminishing quantity, five drops less
each time, four hours apart. In case
the first dose does not stop the diar-
rhpa, continue to give increasing doses !;
80, 40, 40, 80, 60 drops at every move
ment of The bowels. Large doses will
produce no injury tchile the dia1Thaa
lasts. When that is checked, then is
the time for caution. You have gain
ed the victory, see that you hold it by
careful diet and living. | have never
seen a case of diarrhGa taken in sea.
son, at the very commencement, that
was not thus controlled; but some
cases of advanced diarrhpa, or relapse
brought on by imprudence, paid no
heed to it whatever. AS soon as this
became apparent | always resorted to
the following and with gratifying sue
cess: Prepare teacup of starch, boil
ed as for use, and stir into it tea
spoonful of laudanum for an injection !;
give one-third at each movement OF
the bowels. Follow it up. In one case
| could not stop the diarrhna till the
seventh injection, which contained a
whole teaspoonful of laudanum. The
patient was abandoned as hopeless by
an incompetent doctor, but was restor'
ed to perfect health. At the same
time | gave prepared chalk in ten
grain doses with few drops of lauda
nun and camphor. But whatever
course you take, .tollor ii mp until tht
dia1Theo is controlled, or the patient
is lost.
2. Mustard PouHiceS.-These should
be applied to the pit of the stomach
and kept on till the surface is well red
dened. If the eXtremities are cold, use
chatting, hot fiannels, bottles of hot wa
ter, ETC., till natural heat is restored.
3. The patient, however well hi
may feel, should rigidly observe per
feet rest. Lie quietly on your bacl
and the enemy will fire over you. &c
up, like fool, and go about your bus
mess, and ten to one you will be hit
When the attack comes, as in mos
cases it will, in the form of diarrhGa
the above directions will enable ever,
one to meet it with perfect success
Taken in time and treated faithfully i
is the most manageable disease in thu
world. Give it little Roadway ant
you must then fight for life, with tn