Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-07
Lecture on Acute Diarrhea, Chron-
ie Diarrhea, and Cholera
Infantum.
A New and Infallible Cure for These
Common and Dangerous
Ailments.
A Treatment That is OF Vital Interest to all
Glasses and Ages.

1
canaD is necessary in order TO explain
the different diseases TO which 1t Is
liable. The upper portion of the alimeu-
! tarY canal consists of the stom ach and
duodenum. Emptying into the duode-
mum (Which is just below the stomach)
is the duct which conveys the bile from
the liver to this organ. Below the duo
| denum and continuous with 1t is the
small intestine (bowels) coiled up into
many folds, which abruptly becomes ex-
banded into what is known as the large
| intestine, terminating below in the
rectum. All of these organs have for
their lining mucous membrane, which is
continuous throughout their entire
length. The diffe, ence in the symptoms
| produced by the in1amed states of the
mucous membrane in different portions
| of the alimentary canal is explained by
the fact that each portion OF the canal
has function different from oil other
portions of it, which function is sus-
pended when diseased, and the symp-
toms differ in the same degree as the
| function of tho various parts differ.
| lntiamed or congested state of this
| mucous membrane is what gives rise to
| the various diseases OF the digestive
| tract. The diversity of names given to
! the diseases of the alimentary canal do
| not indicate Gas Is commonly thoughC
| different diseases really, but only the
same disease located at different places
in some part of it. If the infiamed mucous
! membrane happens to be in the stomach,
| the disease is called gastritis; II the mu-
cous membranes of the duodeuum and
liver be the ones inflamed, 1t is called
| cholera morbus; if IL be the lining mem
branes of the intestines, large and small,
| il produces what Is called diarrhea in
adults, in children cholera infantum;
but if the Inflammation be confined to the
lower part of the large intestine 1t is
called dysentery. It Is easy TO see,
therefore, that all these ailments are of
similar nature, the principal difference
being the place of their location rather
than any essential difference in their
causation.
shall not In this lecture attempt TO
describe all of the acute diseases of the
alimentary canal, but will confine my
remarks to one, namely, diarrhea. This
common disease is the result of an in
famed state of the mucous lining Of
the small and large intestines.
CAUSES.
Irritation of the intestines by an i'm
proper amount or quality OF food impu-
drinking water, cath rite medicines and
poisons, billiousness and indigestion, are
all capable of causing diarrhea. Again,
changes of temperature, excessive cold
or heat, checking of the perspiratiou
suddenly, foul air of crowded rooms,
bad hygyienic conditions of auy sort, ex-
cessive fatigue and malarial exhalations,
have each been the frequent cause OF
diarrhea, especially during tho summer
months. Cases that are due to other
diseases, viz, typhoid fever, cousump-
ton, cancer, etc., cannot be properly
classed among ordinary diarrheas, and
only palliative treatment for them Is
possible. With some who ara especially
liable to this affection certain articles of
food are sure to cause looseDess of the
bowels, which Is more or less apt to end
in diarrhea.
Infants are much more liable to have
diRrrhes than older children or adults
This is partly due to the improper guam
tity and quality of food they too COM
monty receive. The disease Ia much
more severe in small children, its
fatality exceeding any other disease in
the first two years of intsntile life.
The extreme fatality and some other
peculiarities of diarrhea in infants has
led to its being generally called cholera
infautum, but there is no essential diff
ference between the dlarrhea of adults
and cholera infan um. In either case
the lining mucous membrane of the
bowels are infiamed, which is the same
in diarrhea as in cholera infantum, ex-
cept that the latter is more severe and
dangerous and more often complicated
with dysentery.
Cholera infantum (summer complaint)
rarely becomes chronic, as it either de-
stroys life or ceases in a few weeks; but
the dIarrhea of adults, unless properly
treated, is liable to become chronic, in
which case it becomes very difficult
disease to-cure, especially under the or
binary treatment. Soldiers who are sub
jected to the many exposures incident to
camp life, are the most frequent victims |
of chronic diarrhea. Thousands of the |
survivors of the late war of the rebellion |
are still afflicted with chrome diarrhea, |
which was acquired during the war.
have thus described together the or |
binary acute diarrhes eff summer, the |
cholera infantum or summer complaint |
of infants, and chronic diarrhea, be- |
cause for all practical purposes they are |
identical and require for their cure the |
tions as is Indicated by the age of the
patient or the severity of the disease.
The diarrhea of small children which is
caused by teething is also to be included |
among the ordinary cases of 1t, as the
management of them is the same.
PREvENTIvEs.
Much can be done TO prevent the oc-
currence of this very common ailment.
The diet during the hot months should
be plain and simple; avoid unripe fruit,
half-cooked vegetables, overheating the
body, too sudden cooling of the body,
ice water or iced drinks of any kind,
excessive exhaustion, mental excitement
and impure drinking water. For infants
breast milk Is the best food In existence,
and the very best preventive OF bowel
difficulties in infants Is plenty of milk of
g healthy woman. Tina; Is, indeed, a
child who has for the first year
and half vigorous mother who is
able and willing to nourish it entirely on
breast milk. In cases where this Is inn
possible great care should be taken In
the selection of fresh milk from healthy
cows or goats. Children should have
air during the hot mouths or be
taken to the country, when possible, aft
er being taken sick.