The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-09-21
Some Points on Cholera.


germ that causes it by attacking the
alimentar canal has been named the
comma bacillus" because of its re.
somblance in shape to the punctuation
mark, the comma.
Although cholera germs are portable,
they will not propagate their kind un.
der ordinary conditions, except in the
alimentary canal Of the human being
or other animal. They will multiply
rapidly on gelatine in "culture.tube,"
but they could hardly do the same
thing in any sort of food on board ofa
vessel. The moisture they require for
that purpose would quickly cause any.
thing edible to decay and be destroy.
ed. Anong the auxiliary causes for
cholera, fear of the disease is rated
high. Depressing emotions and in.
temperance are likewise to be avoided.
The panic which commonly prevails
during epidemics of the complaint at.
tains such seriousness that it has earn.
ed for itself the name of "cholerapho.
bia." Under such conditions ordinary
diarrhea usually affect large mum.
ber of persons without eventuating in
cholera. AT the same time there is no
wonder that it occasions alarm, mas.
much as the dread disease itself gives
no warning Of its attack, aside from
mild diarrhea. So little are patients
conscious of their danger they often
apologize for giving the physician the
trouble of visiting them, when glance
suffices to show him that they are on
the verge of fatal collapse.
The first thing requisite is to check
the diarrhea. If prompt measures are
taken for that purpose, the patient will
nearly always recover without further
symptoms, But delay of half an
hour is often fatal. Collapse super.
venes, and then there is little hope.
A few drops cf laudanum with cam.
phor, in repeated doses, will stop the
diarrhea. However, the best remedy,
according to the famous DR.. Austin
Flint, is salt of morphia in doses Of
one grain each, placed on the tongue
and repeated at intervals OF 30 to 45
minutes until the diarrhea ceases.
Where vomiting renders this method
impracticable, the remedy should be
given by the rectum, and, where the
symptoms are urgent, both methods
should be tried. Every moment is
precious, for, if the object is not
promptly affected, collapse is likely
to ensue, the diarrhGa causing a rapid
disorganization of the blood
The cholera exhibits three phases,
which are spoken Of as choleragic
diarrhga, cholerine, and fully devel.
oped cholera. Choleragic diarrhea
has little characteristics about it at
first, save numerous thin, watery
stools-as many as five to forty in one
day-which soon lose their normal
color. Then follows loss of appetite,
great thirst, pain 10 the limbs, and a
peculiar hoarseness of the voice.
The disease is termed cholerine as
soon as vomiting is combined with the
purging. This stage gradually passes
into that of cholera itself The vomit.
ing and diarrbea increase, the stools
assume the so called rice water appear.
ance. The action of the heart grows
weaker; the skin grows pale, cold, and
blueish. white; the face assumes lead.
en- hue; the cheeks fall in, the features
become pinched; the eyes sink deep in
their sockets. This stage seldom lasts
more than two days, and generally
death ensues within a few hours.
A remarkable amount of muscular
contortious occur within a few hours
after death, sufficient in some cases to
cause the body to change its position,
thus giving rise to the report that the
dead have come to life, or were buried
alive.
In order to prevent the spread Of
cholera, obviously the most important
thing to know is how the germs are
distributed. The complaint being a
disease of the alimentary canal, the ba.
cilli are only contained in the dis.
charges from the bowels of the patient
and in the vomit. Accordingly, these
must be promptly destroyed, and not
thrown away. They should not be
permitted to pass into the sewers, be.
cause the latter empty into rivers usu.
ally. 1t is probale that the germs
most commonly fnd their way into
the body in drinking water,
India and rahia ara tho hcn,aa Of