The record-union., 1892-09-01

1919. On several occasions since that wear
cholera has been brought to various ports
III America, but has been checked at
quarantine.
HOW TO MEET IT.
During epidemics of the disease the
greatest care should be exercised in the
dlslntectlon of the linen of the patients A
very important preventive is to drink no
water during an epidemic that has not
been thoroughly boiled. Errors and vio-
lent changes in diet should be avoided,
as Well as the common use of indigesti-
ole ana lnnutrltiouS articles of food. Di-
geslVe disturbances are to be treated
promptly, and especially the laxative
symptom, which is so often a prelimi-
nary. For that, opium and acetate of
lead and large doses of bismuth are re-
commended by the best authorities.
AS cholera is no more contagious than
typhoid fever the chance of passing safely
through an epidemic depends very much
upon how far person is able to carry out
the preventive measures pointed out.
Nostrums and charms carried on the per-
son, like green coffee berries and asa
!etlda, have no efficacy unless it be to re-
!h1orce the courage Of the person carry
ing them.
Cholera does not creep when it has
gained foothold in the human organism.
Not more than two to five days precede
The development of the symptoms.
ihere are three stages in every attack
the preliminary laxative condition, the
collapse stage and the period of reaction.
The preliminary may set in abruptly,
without any previous Indications but
more commonly there are for one or two
days colicky pains in the abdomen, with
IaXltlve condition, headache, depres-
sion OF spirits and perhaps vomiting. In
the collapse stage the laxitive condition
sets In with the greatest intensity. There
IS sense of exhaustion and collapse
The thirst becomes extreme, the tongue
is white; cramps Of great severity occur
IN the legs and feet. Soon vomiting be-
comes lnceSSant
The patient rapidly sinks, the features
are shrunken, the skin ashy gray, the
eyeballs sink in the sockets, the nose is
plnched, the cheeks are hollow. the voice
husky, the extremities blue and the skin
is shriveled, wrinkled and covered with
a clammy perspiration. The temper
ature sinks, the pulse becomes feeble and
ttickering and the patient gradually
passes into coma.
When the patient survives the blue
ness gradually disappears, warmth re-
turns, the heart acts more strongly, the
irritability of the stomach disappears and
there is no abdominal pain. Strength re-
turns and recovery follows. In an epi-
demic cases of all degrees of severity
occur, but In all the treatment is the
same, and should be promptly begun. In
the early stage, when abdominal pain is
marked, opium is the most efficient
remedy and should be given hypodermic-
ally as morphia 1t is advisable to give
full dose, which may be repeated when
pain returns. 1t is best not to attempt to
give remedies by the mouth, as they dis
turb the stomach. Ice should be given
and brandy or hot coffee. For intense
thirst ice water may be given freely. For
the vomiting there seems to be no effect
i've remedy. External applications of
heat and hot baths may be tried and will
prove beneficial.
In the stage of reaction special pains
should be taken to regulate the diet and
guard against occurrences of the laxative
condition which precedes cholera. The
general recommendations made by DIR.
Bunker and other medical men are alike
and are simple. They are merely to keep
the body clean, TO avoid undue appre-
hension, to live in clean surroundings, to
drink boiled water and eat simple food.
II cholera does attack, a physician
should be at once called and his advice
strictly followed.-San Francisco Ex-
amman