The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-23
THE CHOLERA.
characteristics of the Disease Rules to be
Observed During Its Prevalence.

Observed During It's Prevalence.
In view of the fact that Asiatic cholera
has reached the shores of this country
and that in all probability its march in
land can be anticipated, perhaps word
regarding the disease itself and few
suggestions respecting its treatment
would be acceptable to your readers, says
DR.. A. P. Grinnell, in the Burlington
Free Press.
Cholera is essentially an infectious dis
ease and depends for its development up
on the presence of a microbe or germ
called the comma bacillus, which finds
it's way into the stomach or intestines
(either in food or drink. where it rapid
ly develops and multiplies, causing in
flammation of the muscus lining of the
intestine. These bacilla are so small
that it requires a magnifying power of
900 diameters to see them. They are
found in large numbers in the objections,
but rarely in vomiUed matter. The actual
cause of the disease, the comma bacillus,
was only discovered by Koch in 1884.
Cholera exists every year in India to a
greater or less extent, and during the ten
years preceding 1884 there were three and
half million deaths from the disease.
1t is only during the present century that
it has invaded Europe or America. The
first epidemic invading this country was
in 1882, when it was brought by immi-
grant ships from Great Britain to Que
bee, travelling westward by the Great
Lakes to the upper Mississippi. In the
same year it entered the United States
by the way of New York. There were
other slight invasions of the disease in
1886. In 1S4S it found an entrance to
this country through New Orleans and
spread westward to California, very few
cases appearing east of the Mississippi
river. In 1S49 few cases appeared and
it prevailed widely in 1854, being induced
by immigrant ships into the port of New
York. In 1S66-67 and 1878 1t appeared
here, but did not reach the Importance
Of an epidemic. Although few cases
have been intercepted at quarantine
the disease has had no foothold in this
country since 1878. From the above it
will be seen that the disease is far from
being stranger to us, although except
in the years 1882 and 1854 no epidemic of
any moment has occurred and the NOR
tally was slight in comparison to other
countries suffering at the same time.
The disease is not contagious in the
same sense as small pox and scarlet
fever, but is similar to typhoid fever in
this respect. 1t is strange but instruc-
tive fact that physicians and nurses who
are closely and constantly in attendance
upon cholera patients rarely take the dis
ease. 1t is believed by many writers
that the disease is not contagious or in
fictitious at all except through fear, but
there are many recorded cases which
would refute this statement. The lead
ing authorities are agreed that its propa-
CATION depends upon the contamination
of water used for drinking, washing and
cooking. Koch found the bacilli in water
tanks in India from which the inhabi-
tants received their supply for drinking
and washing purposes. The bacilli or
germs are not conveyed through the at
mosphere, as it is generally supposed,
but spread along the lines of travel, car
ried by pilgrims, caravans, railroads, ships
and the like. The disease does not pre-
vail with such virulence in high attitudes
OF inland as upon the sea coasts.
A very high temperature favors the de-
velopment of the disease, although in
this country the greatest number of cases
haye been found in the latter. part of
summer or beginning of autumn.
1t is not so easy as one would suppose
to distinguish between. Asiatic cholera
and cholera nostras Cholera morbus), as
tons are identical. In very feeble per-
SONS death can result in either dis
ease within a few hours. 1t is, of
course, important that diagnosis be-
tween the two diseases be made as early
as possible, but to determine that Asiat-
ic cholera exists, it is necessary to find
the germ peculiar to the disease in the |
OBJECTIONS. The mortality RACES so high |
in true Asiatic cholera, with or without |
treatment, that the attention of physi- |
clans has been more directed to its pre-
vention than its cure. That the disease
can be prevented is no longer question |
OF doubt and with proper sanitary OBJ |
servance its progress can be interrupted |
and STAN ped out. The prevention being |
the important thing, what course should |
the individual follow in keeping himself |
secure Prof. Nothnagel has given
some valuable suggestions by request of |
the Austrian government, which if fol- |
lowed out would prevent many mo doubt,
from taking the disease. He LAYS great |
stress upon the necessity of every person
giving attention to the hygenic laws,
avoiding bodily and mental over-exe1-
ton, discarding all food which has not
been properly prepared by cooking,
avoiding the nse of water which has not |
been previously boiled, bathing the body
every day and making use of acid drinks
OF carbonated water. 1t has been proven
to the satisfaction of many physicians
who have treated the disease that much
less number of persons have taken the
disease where the practice was followed
OF drinking dilute sulphuric acid. Acids
are known to destroy the germ, and if
the stomach and bowels are accustomed
to the introduction of this substance, the
even if they find their way in
to the intestinal track, are harmless and
inert.
During the existence of an epidemic of
Asiatic cholera the observance of the fol-
lowing rules might be instrumental in
person from becoming a
victim to the disease:
First-No food of whatever character
should be taken unless thoroughly cook
ed.
Second-All water intended for drink
ing should be heated to temperature of
l76' +. or boiled for half hour and allow
ed to cool before using. When iced, the
ice should be placed around the water
and not in it, as the ice often contains
organisms that can develop in the body.
Third-Milk should be steralized for
fifteen or twenty minutes and allowed to
cool before using and the same precau-
ton used in regard to the contact of ice
as in the cooling of water.
Fourth-It is well to dispense with all
salads of uncooked material and all raw
or fruits.
Fifth-It is advisable that n daitv hotl