Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-29
ACID BATHS FOR CHOLERA MICROBES.
DIR. Stringfield of Chicago Makes Some
Valuable Suggestions.

DIR. Stringheld of Chicago Makes Some
valuable Suggestions.
Chicago Tribune: TIE suggestions Of DR..
@. p. Strngfeld with reference to treatment
for the cholera are worthy of careful con.
sderatiou, the more SO as they are in the
nature OF preventlves, and an ounce of pro-
veLtlon always is worth pound Of cure.
To fortify against cholera is wiser policy
than to attempt TO check 1t after 1t has
gained q foo,hold. DIR. Struggled says:
"Cholera, like many other diseases, Is due
to germ which must have an alkaline
medium for development. Therefore, If you
cause all the secrctons of the body to pe.
come acids the germ cannot thrive. III all
persons would drink freely of sulphuric-
acid lemonade. made by simply adding ten
or fifteen drops of sulphuric acid 10
quart of ordinary lake water, boiled and then
iced, or to any of the numerous spring
waters, putting in efficient sugar to make 1t
palatable, 1t would be good preventive.
Drink this instead of water or any other bev
erage, as tits harmless when properly diluted
and can be consumed in large quantities.
This acid has been employed with great ad
vantage In epdemicS of cholera by Dr. Cur
tis in the Philadelphia almsnouse insane de-
partment. A very seriors epidemic ceased
III twelve hours after the inmates were all
put upon the free use of snlphuric acid lem
onade. The only new case after this was
that of man who refused to uso the pro-
phylactic. Two DAYS after the use of the
sulphuric acid was stopped two new cases
again occurred, and the epidemic was again
arrested 10y tho use of sulphurc
acid In tn surgical wards the acid was
used from the oePiuning of the epidemic, and
IN these wards, although in no way isolated,
the disease failed TO make an appearance. In
view of this statement of facts tho preventive
should be used freely ana early. II is OF the
utmost Importance to check the premonitory
diarrh9a, which is amenable to prompt, sim
pie treatment Cholera is generally preceded
by diarrhpa, and an attack very rarely oc-
ours when this symptom receives carly and
appropriate ton. Excepting in the
frequent cases in which cholera is not pre-
ceded by dlarrhpa, It may, with almost
absolute certainty, be prevented. The
greatest difficulty is in the prompt applica-
tion of simple but effective treatment in all
cases of diarrhuea during the epidemic, Very
many pay no attention to the pre- monitory.
symptoms through Ignorance, and not few
OF those better informed neglect II, either
from rccklessness or because they can not
appreciate the fact that "A disorder SO slight
and ordinary can be precursor OF so grave
u malady as cholera.
If DR.. Stringhelds premises are sound
and it ought to be an easy matter to demon
strate their truth or untruth it follows that
his conclusions must be correct. If
the cholera bacillus is fond of an alkaline
bath and fourishes under those condi-
tions, then il stands to reason he
will not enjoy an acid bath nor
lourlsn on IT, ana tnat sulpnuric-aclu leihop-
ade will be his undoing. With proper pre-
cautions In Its preparation and with appro-
pirate seasoning 1t can be made palatable
beverage. 1t is cheap ana easily prepared
also. Every person can have 1T on hand
Would it not be well, therefore, for the Board
of Health to investigate its efficacy and make
| II public statement! He says 1t has been used
before and Is not IN any sense an expert
mental remedy. Then 1t will be possible TO
ascertain with degree of certainty just
what sulnhurlc-acd lemonade can do in
warding off cholera.