The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-09-01

x IE[Rx8KA7 numDer as many VIC
ENE55zn, &kA tins as did the in
MES 49,. fuenza OF years ago.
MS-Slss N - e5ss ~ But the fact that it is
N4%ss" the dreaded cholera,
the plague of the last 2,000 years in Europe
and the East, will fill mems hesrts with
fear and foreboding and the death rate will
be augmented as a result. Under certain
conditions there is little to fear from
visitation of this scourage of humanity.
1t is a disease of filth; it is visible mani
festation Of the truth of the assertion that
cleanliness is next to godliness. Cities and
towns whose sanitary conditions sre as
nearly perfect as it is possible to get them
rarely suffer from severe or prolonged
visit from this disease.
Cholera is preventible disease. 1t is
not incursble, although the death rate de-
pends largely upon number of conditions,
among them the surroundings Of the
patient and the condition of his system at
the time Of the attack Cholera morbus is
not cholera, neithor is case of simple
disrrhoea cholera mcrbus, although there
of every slight stack of purging and
vomiting consequent upon imprudence ut
the dining table as cholera morbus. A
severe case of cholera morbus is as much to
be dreaded, and is almost as likely to result
fatally, as an attack of cholera. But dur
slightest approach to an attack of simple
diarrhGa is to be regarded as s"wsrning,
and not TO be neglected. 1t is very rare
thing for an attack of cholera to be made
without certain premonitory symptoms, the
principal and almost unfailing one being
slight but persistent attack of what is
popularity called summer complaint.
From observations during the cholera
outbreak in Spain in the summer of 1885 a
representative of the United States Gov
ernment made the following report upon
the susceptibility of certain persons to the
disease
"In its choice of victims cholera is most
precise and definite. With rare exceptions
they belong to one of the four following
classes of persons Those who live under
bad hygienic conditions with respect to
food and lodgings; those who are impru-
dent with respect to eating, drinking and
exposure; those weakened and debilitated
by alcoholic excuses, and those who suffer
from chronic digestive weakness or de-
rangement.
Among the imprudences which become
dangerous in the presence of cholera are
overeating to the extent of producing
lethargy or indigestion, or drinking any
liquid so as to check the process of diges-
tion, eating raw vegetables in the form of
salads and, in general, the use of raw
fruits unless perfectly fresh and ripe.
Drinking cold water or beer after having
eaten raw fruit is direct challenge to
cholera which no person, no matter how
strong and healthy, can afford to ri-k.
THE susceptibility of drunkards to
choleraic influences is proven by abundant
evidence. Among them may be cited the
fact of its sweeping fatality wherever it
attacked inmates Of inebriRte asylums.
Anything, in fact whether Of temporary
or chronic nature which impairs the vigor
of the digestive organs exposes persons thus
weakened to choleraic attack"
Cholera-is defined by Dr. Sdlle, of
Philadelphia, in his work on the disease, as
"an epidemic disease characterized by the
transudation of serum into the stomach and
bowls, and usually by the profuse discharge
by vomiting and purging of a liquid
resembling rice. water followed by a
tendency to collspse"--as rule chooses the
middle aged and elderly persons for its
victims in preference TO the very young.
Statistical researches show that the rate
Of mortality, in proportion of 1000, in
subjects under years ia 143 from 10 Is
years, so; from 10 to 30 years, III from 80
to As years, 254 from 45 to 60 years, 2O6,
and from 60 to So years, 1862
In its method of attack cholera, as
general thing, follows an almost unvarying
course. The disease is preceded by simple
diarrh@a, the dejections being, greater or
less painless and copious. Its duration may
last for several days or only for few
hours. Aside from this nothing denotes
tendency to the disease. Sometimes this
premonitory symptom is lacking; occa-
sionslly vomiting occurs. Then follows
the development of the disease proper,
The attacks are made mostly in the night,
If diarrbea has existed, the discharges are
suddenly increased. They assume the
character and appearance of rice water;
it is sometimes blood stained. There may
or there may not be cramps in the limbs
and abdomen, There is vomiting, ald
constantly increasing weakness. The
vomiting is not preceded or accompanied
by any nausea. The pulse is frequent
and proportionasely feeble, beating 100,