Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-07-24
FACTS ABOUT CHOLERA

FACTS ABOUT CHOLERA.
United States Consul Frank III. Ma
son, of Marseilles, has sent to the De-
partment of State resume of the prac-
tical conclusions concerning the nature
of Asiatic cholera and the best methods
of prevention and treatment as derived
from studies of the epidemics of 1854
and preceding years at Marseilles.
Leaving aside all merely abstract the
ories concerning the origin of the dis
ease or its precise point of attack upon
the system, it is important 10 observe
that its symptoms, its methods of at
tack, differ greatly in neighboring cases
during the same epidemic. Some times,
as during that of 1884, in its choice of
victims, cholera is most precise and def
mite. With rare exceptions they belong
to one of the four following classes of
persons:
Those who lived under bad hygienic
conditions in respect to food and lodg-
ings.
Those who are imprudent in respect
to eating, drinking and exposure.
Those who are weakened and debili-
tated by alcoholic cxcesses, and those
who suffer from chronic digestive weak
ness or arrangement.
Among the imprudences which be-
come dangerous in presence of cholera
are over-eating to the extent of produc-
ing lethargy of indigestion, drinking
any liquid so cold as to check the pro-
cess of digestion, the eating of raw veg
etables in the form of salads, and in
general the use of raw fruits unless they
are perfectly fresh and ripe.
Drinking cold water or beer after
having eaten raw fruit is direct chal-
lenge to cholera, which no person, how
ever strong and healthy, can afford to
risk.
The susceptibility of drunkards to
choleraic influences is proven by abund-
ant evidences, among which may be
cited the sweeping fatality Of the dis
ease wherever it has attacked the in
mates of an inebriate asylum. Any
thing, in fact, whether Of temporary
or chronic nature, which impairs the
vigor Of the digestive organs exposes
the person thus weakened to choleraic
attack.
TRANSMISSION OF CHOLERA.
In relation to the transmission of chol-
era Mr.. Mason says that the contagion
is transmitted both by the inhalation of
air infected by clothing, rags, wool, &C.,
which have been tainted by contact
with the disease, and by water. a man
in July last left one Of the most affected
quarters of Marseilles for his native vii
lage of Vogue. He remain there IN per-
feet health until he opened his trunk,
which had been packed at Marseilles,
and wore a suit of clothing that it con-
tanned. Immediately thereupon he and
several persons with whom he was liv-
ing were fatally attacked, and within
twenty days fifty-four of the $50 inhab-
itants of the village had perisled. To
this may be added the conclusive fact
that the epidemic of 1884 was kindled
at Marseilles by the clothing brought to
that city in the trunk Of a young stu
dent coming from the Lycee at Toulon.
Equally striking as an example Of the
power Of water to diffuse the contagion,
saws Mr.. Mason, was the case Of the viii
lage of Omergues. in the department OF
Bassa-Alpessa. On the 10th Of July
there arrived at Omergues young SER
want girl, who had been in service at
Marseilles. Soon after her arrival she
washed some linen which had been in
contact with a cholera patient at Mar
seilles in the Japron, creek which sup
plies the village with water. From that
imprudence sprang the contagion which
decimated that unfortunate community
and spread death throughout .he entire
valley of the Japron below Omergues.
while the inhabitants of the same valley
above the village escaped.
OPINIONS OF EXPERTS.
Concerning the general question ol
transmission of cholera, the medical au'
thorities of Marseilles are united in tht
following conclusion:
The disease does not transmit itself di
rectly from cholera patient to persor
in good health, neither by contact no
by inhalation. The dejections and vomi
of cholera patient usually contain TIT
germ of contagion, which, although no
Immediately transmissible itself, ye
when placed under favorable condi
tions, quickly breeds and develops tn
contagious principle BY means of whicl
cholera always operates, whethe
through the medium Of air or water.