New-York tribune., 1885-07-10
TREATMENT OF CHOLERA.
THE RESULT OF EXPERIENCE IN FRANCE.
CONSUL MASON GIVES SOME PRACTICAL C0NCLU-
aIoNa GAINED IN MARsEILLEs

WASHINGTON, July O.'-T lduh u' N"o"h'
United States Consul at Marsees has sent to the De-
partmcnt Of State OF the practical conclusions
concerning the nature OF Asatci cholera and the best
methods OF prevention and treatment derived from
studies of epidemic OF 1884 and preceding years ut
Marseilles. He says:
Daring nno years since 1895 Marseles has been visited
by Asatc cholera The outbreak OF 1884 was aggravated
by recurrence OF the epidemic In 1885, and those of
1854 and 1868, respectively. were each followed Dy
following year. With exceptlOn-that OF 1884 30 -
cholera death rate OF these second seasons was sDie
pnon j. attributed largely to the TACT year Of
pesticnce the municipal ana sanitary authorities
9S eeu ass 70 meet ' IesurIng epidemic
more intogently and with much less OF panic
aud trcpdation. Leaving a'de all merely abstract
theories oacernng the origin OF The disease Its pre-
cse point OF attack upon the system, II - IMPORTANT 10
observe that It's symptoms aud IL methods Of attack differ
greatly In hboring during the epidemic.
Sometimes preceded by darrhGa the cho era develops
only after several DAYS of such premoDItory illness.
AgS n II strikes its victim while asleep after n day of
apparently perfect health. In one ease 1t produces
these symptoms. one victim is stricken with Intense
chs. suppression Of loss OF voice aud violent
cramps while another feels only painful compression
of the chest Here a case begins with violent synip
toms which soon yield to treaimont; there another
which from mild aud nearly painless beginning pro-
ceeds irrcsisbly to complications which result DEATH
IN no previous cpdinc at Marseles were these mani
fcstaons OF The vat0us, complicated aud
pcrpiexing to phy sicians rs during that or 1854.
In lts choice Of victims cholera "a most Precise and
definite with exceptions they belong TO OF the
four following classes of persons Those who 1--we nnder
bad gcn, tions in 10 food and oi. ings;
those wo are nprident IN res pect To eating drinking
and exposure; thOse who weakened and debitatcd
by alcoholic cxccsscs, and those who su1cr from chronic
digestive weakness or arrangement. Among the I'M
priieuces which become dangerous In presence OF
cholera, eating IN the extent of producing
let ndigcst0n drinking any quid 80 cold as TO
cncc the process Of dgcsiO the eating OF raw vcget
abcs in the of Salads and IN general the OF aw
fruits unless they are perfectly fresh and ripe. Drinking
cold water beer after having eaten fruiis diect
challenge to cholera which person however strong
and healthy. can afford u risk. The susceptibility oi
diunklfds to chDelac Influences j. proven by abundant
evidence. among which may be ciicd the sweeping
fatality ot the disease wherever II mas attacl ed tue
nmates OF inehiiae asylum. Anything, III fact.
whether OF Temporary chronic nature which mpairs
he visor of The digestive orsns. exposes the persons
thus weakened 10 chceraic attack.
The conagiol Is transmitted both by the inhalation of
air Injected ny cOlhlng rags, Wool e'c' whlch nave
been anicd by contact with the disease and by wafer
man in Ja last LETT one of The most affected quarters
~ Naiacilcs for his native VILLAGE Of Vogue. lie re-
manned there IN perfect health until he opened his bunk
clothing that II c0hiiih'd immediately th.rcnp'n he
aud several PERSONS with whom lie LIVING
hlny a.HcSed ana W.hn tweniy Ky days my -'qur M & o,
The go mn inI ANS OF the FllaAe ah pcisAed 10 th
be added the conclusive fact - tiie epidemic ~
IS was kindcd az Marso les by t.e clothing brought
the LYcec at ronlon. Equally striking an example OF
Tie mower Of wafer to duse nc contagon was the ease
o the village % Omer.us'. n lhe Deiatnent OF Baases
Aipcs on the l0th of Jgy ibere arrived ~ Omerges
-oou ai,cf hci arrival she washed some linen which had
hren c0nac, VI h cholera PATIENT ~ Marsces. in
wafer FROM that imprrlence sPrAug the cnnaelol
visch decuniei tht uuipftrua!e com .inniiy AMI
below Onergrc., While the inhabitants oi tie same
valley abou The village escaped
Concerning thc general question ~ Transmission OF
cholera The media authorities oi Mai-eo, are united
nit i,.elf directly cholera patient to person la
eoDi ne th. clther by contact nor by Inhalation. The
deccons ana voint oi a cholera paticut usun
tDc germ of conta zion which, although Immediately
trlnuuissahie ielf. yet when placed under favorable
condition. quickly breeds and develops the contagious
prnicple 10y means OF which ossa always operates,
whether through tlc medium OF air or water Clothing
ana trxille merchandise are far moro dangerous
vrhccs ~ thi, contagious principle than individuals
This chocrai' poison attacks only persons who are IN
proportion to tue degree % ths receptive condon 1t
pro lnce- cholera or chulcrnc In other words. cholera
Is not drecly contieious Ike scaratina smallpox or
dlphcIir bat j. disease prolucin- germ which. ~
orlcr become contagious requires 10 pass through
certain process % derelopmeni As THIS germ i con
tanned Ia the dcicciions and vomitoi matter of coera
pali.nl.. II !, Of nrt importance To Immediately
nouirAlI2r such matter by contact with powerful
antcpc-. For this purpose the Ave aniseptics which
'9y .odsa Sica 'S9"d %Sss "a the proportion Of not
les than two ounce. 20 n qrarS Of water
%hleRorS % o mercury 3 ounce to aaari OF water
Bi.chioiifr ~ copper ounces To quart of water
snlphuric acid. ounces to - quart OF water
The cheiuirais are used Tor the di-nfe ton OF
wicr clo-cts sinks ana nll other seats of decay or
iron. 10 pound, In 900 gallons ~ wafer. or the liquid
chloride of zine 20 pounds IN go gallons. have been
proportion 81 ton pounds to 900 gallons Of water
LARGELY used IN Nnrelc- 49, year but the results were
going far anrp that tho phenic principle pre-
,cd mhcr Than destrp ed the germs Of contagion
of zine. hhrraly iscd. has hrcn found most elective
The regimen 81 fne Military Department, which pro-
durcd excellent csHlfs the result ~ long and care
mi experience and consisted In The strict enforcement of
follow ng rules; rhc wearing ~ broad belt. or
ginIlc pf funnel 20 prote the stomach and bowels from
sudden chill whte linen cotton hhvelocls. To- bc
during all outdoor cNerci-c-. Absolute nlerilc-
tpn OF green fruits The OF rice In all soups. 4
quart of wine daily each Variation of food "a,
often ~ practicable. suspension OF military
walk Tor exercise from Ia 30 "A. each alternate
Day. Music morning and evening ~ me barrack yard
Frclueu washing of ro"ina and halls win solution or
phenic acid stewards required To have constantly
ready tca sugar and rum 10 tr administered Immediately
IN MI ca.es ~ coc; a-o" liquor Of Batavia 10 be given
twenty drops In "a quart OF water the appearance
OF ch0lerlc symptoms.
Any sudden change OF temperature, particularly tho
of the body after Violent exercise exposure 10
heat should b" carefully oldeh. accordingly woolcn
clothing every Df IN" Io T. preferable 10 cotton
or linen. while the strctc~t personal clcanl ness II
n h not considered advisable for any but per-
In full physical vigor aud accustomed to regnar
cold baths continue thcD In prrrcncc of cholera.
Daily baths taken with careful reference 10 hours
o meals adviseh. such baths should always he io
lowed by vigorous rubbing of the ska and the usual
measure. 10 restore vigorous and healthy crc uatiOn.