The Press., 1884-09-11
CHOLERA-ITS SYMPTOMS AND TREAT
 MENT,
BY CYRUS HAMLIN, PRESIDENT OF MIDDLE
 BURY COLLEGE.

but we may so prepare for it as to mit- gate CT counteract it's force. have fought it hand to hand in many hundreds of cases in five successive invasions of Constanti- nople. can say with confidence that if one will watch the symptoms of attack it is then the most easily managed of all dis eases. 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. I send you copy, slightly condensed, that anxious families may know what to do in case of attack while waiting for the doc tor. These directions are the result of long continued 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 posses sion.
 CAUSES OF ATTACK.-I have personally investigated many cases with regard to the melting cause. Improper food or in toxicating drinks, or both together, will cold draft while in precipitation, great fatigue, great anxiety, fear, terror, all fig ure among melting causes. If one can avoid all these he is r as safe from the cholera as he is from Encke's comet. I take for
 
 dwelling or shop is made perfect.
 SYMPTOMS OF AN ATTACK. all dis eases cholera gives at least few hours quiet and friendly notice of its approach to the individual It is in the form of a painless diarrhpa. The patient feels per- | fectly well and with an incredible blind ness will often hide or deny the fact that he has that premonitory symptom. It will at first have no single characteristic of Asiatic cholera. Wait little. It is the skirmishing party of the advancing column and you will soon repent of your folly. have seen many 8 one commit suicide in this way. Sometimes, though rarely, this painless diarrhea continues for day or two and then the attack is made in force, and the patient dies, as a fool dieth. In the case of intemperate persons the attace is often sudden and vi. olent and fatal. This disease riots in the haunts of drunkenness and vice and gath. CTS strength to stalk forth as destroyer Detect the first symptoms, and with prompt action you have nothing to fear. COURSE OF TREATMENT.-Thef first thing is to stop the incipient diarrhma. The mixture which used in 1848, 55, 65, 71, with great success, and which is one of the most valuable of family medicines, to be kept in every household and the carpet bag of every traveller, is composed of equal parts, by measure, of laudanum, tincture of rhubarb and spirits of camphor. Thirty drops for an adult on lump of sugar will often check the diarrhea. In order to prevent it's 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 not stop the diarrhaa, continue to give increasing doses 35, 40, 45, 50, 60 drops at every movement of the bowels. Large doses will produce no inju. ry tO1sile tbe diGrrboe0 L0sts. When that is checked, then is the time for caution. You have gained the victory, see that you l hold 1t by careful diet and living. I have never seen case of diarrhoea taken in sea- son, at the very commencement, that was not thus controlled but some cases of ad. 1 by imprude fence, paid no heed to it what ever. As soon as this became apparent ] always resorted to the following and with gratifying success Prepare teacup ot starch, boiled as for use, and stir into 1t a teaspoonful of laudanNm for an injection give one-t third at each movement of the bowels. Follow 1t up. In one case ] could not stop the diarrhea till the seventh injection, which contained a whole tea. spoonful of laudanum. The patient was abandoned as hopeless by an incompetent doctor, but was restored to perfect heath. At the same time l gave prepared chalk in ten grain doses with a few drops of laud. anum and camphor. But whatever course you take, .follOaO it aa2 u,atil the diGrrhced is controlled, or the patient is lost.
 2. Mustard poulices.-These should be applied to the pit of the stomach, and kept on till the surface is we'll reddened. If the extremeties are cold, use chafng, hot fannels, bottles of hot water, etc., till natural heat is restored.
 3. The patient, however we'll he may feel, should rigidly observe perfect rest. Lie quietly on your back and the enemy will fire over you. Get up, like foo, and go about your business, and ten to one you will be hit. When the attack comes, as in most cases it will, in the form of di arrh@a, the above directions will enable every one to meet it with perfect success. Taken in time and treated faithfully it if | the most manageable disease in the world Give it 8 little headway and you must then fight for life, with the odds against | you.
 4. When the attack is more violent and there is vomiting and purging, perhaps al so cramps and colic, the following mixture much used in India, which for convenience sake we label Mo- g." should always be re sorted to. It is composed of the follow ing four ingredients in equal parts by measure l, laudanum 2, tincture o1 capsicum 3, tincture of ginger 4, tinc ture of cardamon seeds, or spirits of cam phor. Dose, thirty,to forty drops, or hal teaspoonful, in little water. It is toc intensely acrid to be taken pure. The dose to be increased according to tho urgency of the case. If the first dost should be rejected. as it often will be, the second dose, which. should stand ready should be given just as soon as the spasm of vomiting ceases. 4 It will then take eff feet. In the scouEge of 1865 this form o attack was very cOmmon. The missiona ries Trowbridge, Eang, Washburn, the missionary Dr. Pratt and myself used this medicine almost every day for six weeks and often many times day, with rarely : failure, at the second dose, and never al the third. In vast majority of cases the first was sufficient. We invariably made use also of large mustard poultices, strong and pure, applied to the stomach, bowels, calves of the legs, feet, wrists, as the case may require.
 DIET.-In the prevalence of cholera the great safeguards are cleanliness every where in everything, and moderate, sim pie, nutritious diet. Cucumbers, melons and all..hard, unripe fruits had better be adjourned until the scourge has passed. If the incorporate man must drink. he