The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-16
CHOLERA TALK,
10, d L

/ A Consul Tells Who Are and Who Are Not
Liable to Hayeit-Good Advice at Least.
WASHINGTON, July I0.-United States
Consul Frank II. Mason, of Marseilles, has
sent to the Department report concerning
| the cholera in which, after sketching briefly
the experiences there during the epidemfcs
since 1884, he says: In its choice of vic
TINS, cholera is most precise and definite
With rare exceptions they belong to one of
the four following classes of persons:
| Those who live under bad hygienic condi-
tons in respect to food and lodgings;
! those who are imprudent in respect to eat
ened and debilitated by alcoholic excess;
and those who suffer from chronic digestive
weakness or arrangement Among the i'm
prudence which becomes dangerous i'll the
presence of cholera are over-eating to the
extent of producing lethargy or indigestion,
drinking any liquid so as to check the pro-
gress of digestion, eating raw vegetables in
the form of salads and the general use of
raw fruits unless fresh and ripe, drinking
cold water or beer after having eaten raw
fruit.
THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DRUNKARDs
to choleraic influences is proven by abund-
ant evidence, among which may be cited the
sweeping fatality of the disease whenever
it attacked inmates of inebriate asylums.
Anything in fact whether of temporary
or chronic nature, which impairs the vlgOr
of the digestive organs exposes the person
thus weakened TO chOleraic attack. Can
tagiOn is transmitted by the inhalation Of
air infected, by clothing, rags, wool, etc,
which have been tainted by contact with
the disease and by water. Mr.. Mason cites
the case of man who fled from MarSeilles
and was not taken i'll until he had unfast-
ened his trunk, taking cOntagion from rle
clothing therein. A servant girl went from
MarseilleS to a village of OmerqueS and
after arriving there washed some of her
infected clothes in a creek which supplies
the village with water. Not only was the
village decimated by cholera as the
result, but also the territory below,
through which the stream ran, while that
above escaped. Mason says the authorities
of Marseilles agree that the disease does
not transmit itself directly from a cholera
patient to person in good health neither
and vOmit of the cholera patient usually
contain the germ of the contagion which,
although not Immediately tranSmissible
when placed under favorable conditions,
quickly develops cOntagiOn. At VOmachs
there was practical exemption from the
disease, attributed to the required army
regimen, including the wearing of broad
belt or girdle of flannel to protect the
stomach and bowels from sudden chill and
linen or cotton hanlOcks during all outdoor
exercise; the absolute Introduction of green
fruits; the use of rice in all soups; quart
of wine daily to each man; variation OF
food as often as practicable, a
SUSPENSION OF MILITARY EXERCISES.
walk for exercise from six to 30 a. m,
each alternate day, music morning and
evening IN the barracks yards, frequent
washing of the rooms and walls with soiu-
ton of picnic acid. The steward is re-
quired to have constantly ready tea, sugar
and rum, to be administered Immediately
in all cases Of collie, also ''liquOr of Batavia"
to he given twenty drops i'll quart OF
water) upon the appearance of choleraic
symptoms. Mason then proceeds to give an
outline Of what TO eat and what TO avoid.
Marseil eS prohibited the entry into the
city of melons, cucumbers and summer
lTulJS. 1USlI uCllOiS lSSucu ~ TIC ptlDllC
were to avoid all excess, to drink as little
as possible between meals, to eat
beef and mutton, and protect the body from
sudden chills and see that the food taken is
not stale. Daily tepid baths followed by
vigorous rubbing are recommended. Rea-
son says that there is nothing more peril
GUS than for persons who once left an i'll
fected atmosphere to return before the
pestilence has been completely suppressed.
He continues: mo person should return
to an infected city unless in condition of
good health, particularly in respect 10 all
functions of nutrition. Whenever persons
so return they should sleep for at least
fOrty-eight hours in the suburb or other
locality as near as possible TO the infected
city,"