The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-09-29
ASIATIC CHOLERA.
ITS 'ORIGIN, METHODS OF PRE-
VENTION AND TREATMENT.
How Cholera Germs May BE Extir-
pated-Importance of the Diet
and of Cleanliness In and
About the House.
a pamphlet upon Asiatic

| ton by DR.. l.. ii. Harris, OF
Pittsburg, Penn, we make the
following extracts concerning the dis
ease, its prevention and proper methods
| of treatment:
In "Wood's Practice of Medicine,
| 1855, 1--WE read that although long known
in India, the cholera first began to at
tract the attentionsof the medical pro-
fession generally insthe year 1917, when
it broke out as an epidemic with great
violence in Bengaltand then commenced
the fearfulsmarch which did not cease
until it had encinled the globe.
When DIR. Wood wrote, in 1854, there
! seemed to be a great uncertainty in the
minds o: the medical profession and
much diversity of opinion as to the ma
ture of the specific cause of the disease.
Even at that early date the "germ
theory" though not understood as now,
was vaguely limited at by more than one.
| On this question DR.. Wood writes,
''some have been disposed ito refer the
| results to invisible animalcues" and
while,admitting that manYcircumstance
tend to show that ,sucb theory is with
| in the bounds of reasonable proba-
| bility, adds, "stiB itsmust be confessed
that the opinion is without proof; as
these ,animalculesi have never been de-
| tected."
1t has been reserved for medical
scientists of our'own day and within the
past ten or twelve years to develop and
prove the so-called germ theory, and it
is now generally accepted by all that the
diseases referred to by DR.. Wood,
catarrh and Influenza, are also diseases
propagated entirelysby distinctive germs,
which have beenS isolated and very
infinitely described-f Professor Koch, the
eminent ,bacterlologist of Berlin, by his
personal experience and experiments in
India, in Egypt and elsewhere during
the epidemic OF 1883 andi1S84, has es-
tablished beyond serious question the
fact that cholera in its malignant form
Is also a bacterial or germ disease,
having isolated and identified the
"comna bacillus" as the peculiar germ
always existing in every case of genuine
cholera aud never found under other
| circumstances.
These cholera tgerms may exist to q
limited extent in'the air during periods
when the disease is epidemic, but more
generally find their way into the system
by the drinking of impure water, and
one of the best precautionary methods is
to use no waterlfor drinking except that
which has been boiled. Spring water
and that from shallow wells should be
especially avoided.
The development of the germ theory
of this disease enables the medical pro-
fession to control It to greater extent
than formerly and suggests many means
of prevention entirely unknown during
former epldemics. This, cholera germ is
readily propagated and rapidly multi
piled in the, alimentary canal, and its
first existence is shown by diarrhea,
which should be checked ationce, and if
possible by remedies whichlat the same
time destroy the germs of the disease;
the delay of single, hour in such cases
is hazardous, since tits only in the earlier
stages of the disease that it is likely to
yield to medical treatment, and hence
the great necessity for having some re-
liable remedy always at hand for such
emergency until the services of phys-
clan can be secured. Hence also the
propriety of using preventive medicines,
as well as strict attention to the diet
and ordinary sanitary regulations during
a period when cholera and other infec-
tious diseases are prevalent.
The germ theory having been admit.
ted, it follows that the preventative
remedy will be one which by expert
ence has proved most effective in de-
stroying those germs and'one which may
be used with the utmost safety. No
other preventative remedies should be
placed in the hands of the general pub
lie.
The popular belief that brandy and
other alcoholic stimulants are a safe.
guard against the dreaded disease sbould
be discountenanced, since it is a well.
known fact that those who are accus.
toned 10 the use of such stimulants are
among the first to succumb to the dis
ease. Brandy or whisky or Gin may in
some cases be used to give temporary
relief In the earlier stages of the disease
when other remedies are not available
but should in no case be taken as a pre-
ventive. While it is admitted that the
best medication is preventive, yet there
IS room for choice in this matter and al
coholic beverages should be avoided as
far as possible during the heated term
and more especially during a cholera
epidemic. 1t should also be borne IN
mind that IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORT
ANcE THAT A PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE
CALLED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MO.
MENT. Household remedies, while con-
venient and indeed important to use i'm
mediately on the appearance of the first
symptoms, should be considered simply
as temporary expedient until profess
slonal skill can be secured.
All garbage should be burned, no filth
or decaying vegetable or animal matter
should be permitted to remain unburnt,
disinfectants should be freely applied
whenever needed. but most of all should
closets, drains, outhouses and cellars be