Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-08-13
ITO edo suniHy JournaI.l
Prepare for Cholera.

We have studied with the greatest
possible interest all the facts and opinion.
relating TO cholera, concluding with the
cholera Symposium in the North Ameri
can Revfes0 for August, to which Drs,
John A. Hamilton, John III. Rauch,
John c. Peters, II. c. Wood and
Charles A. Leaf, all of whom have had
large experience in fatal epidemics are
contributors.
All theories and notions aside the
concurrent testimony is
That cholera is not endemic in the
United States.
That it is of Asiatic origin and must
be carried into this country on the bod
les, or clothing of immigrants.
That it springs from germ, or bacil-
lus, introduced into the stomach and
alimentary canal by breathing, food, or
water, into which the poison has found
its way. - "a - & # @
That this bacillus rnultiplies with ex-
traordinary rapidity. It is believed
that one germ will produce sixteen mil-
lions in twenty-four hours, and many
billions in forty-eight hours.
That no amount of dirt and filth will
breed cholera unless the germs have
been swallowed by the sufferers, but
that the great somkes and smells, gases,
or efuvia, coming from dirty streets, al
leys, cutters, sewers, docks, stables, gas
works, slaughter houses, and so on, will
render all cases more severe, il not fatal
and hopeless.
That the germs have q positive gen.
ius for finding their way into water,
and particularly. into impure water or
water holding alkalies in solution.
That low lying places, like Toledo,
along the lines of travel, suffer most;
the scourge greatly aggravated by bad
sewerage, i'll cooked food and impure
water
That cholera discharges, by vomiting,
Orevacuation, will rapidly infect o whole
city, by getting into the water supply,
and that the discharges from premoni-
tory diarrh9a are as poisonous as the
rice water excavations of the true chol-
eraic stage.
That the feeble and decrepid and
those with foul stomachs and weak di-
gestions are the most susceptible to
cholera, as the germs thrive enormous
ly in alkaline fluids, containing decom-
posing organic matter, when aided by
warmth.
That the cholera germ can be carried
about on clothing soiled with cholera
discharges, even if thoroughly dried,
and after the expiration of long period
of time.
The question to be settled, then, is
what shall be done to prepare for
cholera, since there is every reason to
believe that the tide of travel and i'm
migration will, by another year, intro
duce it into this country? The burden
of testimony, in brief, seems be as fol-
lows:
l. A rigid examination of the crews
and cargoes setting out for this country,
by the American consulates abroad.
2. A quarantine for disinfection of
vessels, upon which the scourge has
broken out, upon arriving at United
States ports. Time will avail nothing,
but the use of powerful disinfectants,
mechanically introduced, like sulphur
Gus acid gas, is known to be q totally
destructive germicidal agent.
3. Absolute sanitary regulations in
ever city and hamlet. The isolation in
hospitals, or condemned houses, of
cholera patients.
4. The use of distilled, or boiled wa
ter, only; with free use of mineral acids,
which correct the alkaline condition of
the stomach, act as disenfectants
against decomposing materials and
quickly kin all the germs, or microbes
in the water. Pepsin is good anti
dote. Also dilute muriatic, nitric and
sulphuric acids; gallic and iboric acids
and phosphoric. acid. Lemon juice is
useful, but not sure. Brady and spirits
aggravate, but claret or beer are better
than water in travelling, where pure wa
ter cannot be assured.
5. Free use of disinfectents in every
part of the house. Corrosive sublimate
is pronounced by far the best, in proper
tions of one pound of corrosive subli-
mate in 500 pounds of water. A wine
glassful of this may be drank with good
effect, as it will kill all the germs in the
system.
6. The destruction of every article
used around cholera patient, which
cannot be cleansed by plunging into
boiling water. "a
7. Temperance, generous diet, plen-
ty of acids, and avoidance of alkalines,
frequent washing of hands and face, a
cheerful temper and everything that is
conclusive of general health and good
DIGESTION