Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-06-26
Chronicles Of Washington
County.
Events From 1882 to iS37-The Cholera

Events from 1887 10 1851 ne OnoIeTa.
From a Forthcoming HistoY OF Washington
County, by L. j. {. Williams!
Early in the spring Of 1882 the news
went abroad over the country that
Asiatic cholera, then but little known
in this country, had appeared in Mon
treal. a vague alarm was left, which
was increased among the timid and
superstitious by the announcement in
June of the expected appearance OF
Hallev's great comet. Men looked
forward with absolute dread TO the
expected appearance of its baleful
light. connecting it, as it has always
been. with approaching disaster. In
luna the Governor Of the State issued
his proclamation, setting apart the
approaching independence Day lor
RELIGIOUS observance, not ouly III
thanking God for the political liberty
we enjoy, but TO offer prayers for Its
continuance and also that lie would
graciously arrest or mitigate the
threatened dreadful visitation. Cler-
pvmen were requested to read the
proclamation from their pulpits. To
wards the last Of the month Henry
CLAW offered resolution III the Senate
of the United States, asking the Pres
ident to appoint a day to be observed
as day of general humiliation and
PRAYER TO Almighty God that he
might, in His mercy, avert from our
country the Asiatic scourge which is
now traversing and devastating other
countries. And should it be among
the dspensations OF His Providence
to infict this scourge upon our land,
may it please Him, in His mercy, so to
amelorate the infliction as to render
its effects less disastrous among us.
July 4th that year was the quietest
up to that time in the history of the
county. The desire to drink toaSts
was not entirely suppressed, but IN
Hagerstown there was less toast drink
ing and less hilarity than ever before.
All business was suspended and a
large concourse OF people, including
five hundred children OF the Beneti-
cial Society and the Sunday Schools,
gathered on Potomac Street before
the Mark,t-House, and marched in
procession to the Lutheran Church TO
engage in religious exercises.
Before this, William ID. Bell, the
moderator of the town, gave public
notice that the cholera must shortly
be expected to appear in the town,
and that under Providence, cleanli-
ness is the best protection. He there
fore sXhorted all citizens to cleanse
streets, alleys, cutters, cellars and va
cant lots. Ward committees were ap-
pointed to inspect the town thorough
ly, and they soon reported that the
town was clean. 1t was probably due
to this intelligent action of the mode
rator that HuGerstown escaped so
lightly, compared with other towns
similarly situated.
Meanwhile the epidemic was APP
preaching nearer and nearer. In July
it was raging in the great city of New
York. Deaths We're occurring at the
rate OF from seventy-five to a hundred
and fifty a day. 1t was estimated that
not less than hundred thousand peo-
pie had left the city and fled for safe
tv. Thirty thousand of these had de-
parted in a single day. The malady
came on with fearful suddenness and
often an equally sudden termination.
The patient would feel an uneasiness
of the bowels, with great heat and in
tense thirst. then would follow feel
inc of heaviness and weakness, an al
most total suspension of the pulse,
with low, weak and very plaintive
voice then the rice water discharge
would take place, violent vomiting,
oppression of the stomach and an i'm
peded respiration. The circulation OF
the blood became exceedingly slug
gish. the forehead, tongue and ex-
treimties became very cold. Cramps
occurred in the legs, toes and hands,
the face of the patient became livid
and cadaverous, and the body pre-
sented notified appearance.
These symptoms were quickly sue
ceeded by the final stage which was
complete collapse of the whole sys-
TEN, which greatly resembled the ap-
pearance of death. which quickly sue
ceeded. The patient sometimes died
in a tranquil stupor and sometimes in
violent spasms and in great distress.
The different stages of the disease
sometimes followed each other with
such rapidity that death occurred in a
few hours after the appearance of the
first symptoms. In New York il was
reported that whole families had been
wiped out within an incredibly short
space OF time. The most popular
treatment at first was hot applica-
tions, mustard plasters, calomel and
opium. With such accounts of the
progress of the disease, it is not sur
prising that the people were terror
stricken, but from the first there ap-