The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-09-08
Tobacco as il Remedy and Preventive
of Cholera.

THE following article was published
in the GOLD LEAF several years ago,
and is reprinted at this time by reason
of the revival of interest in the sub
iect since the outbreak of cholera in
certain European countries and the
possibility Of its reaching our Shores
EDITOR.l
HENDERSON, n. c., September %,
IS85.-As heretofore stated through
YOUR columns, / have long entertained
the belief that tobacco properly en-
ployed might prove an efficient remedy
for Asiatic cholera, and it now appears
that | am not alone in this belief, but
that more than fifty years ago it was
used successfully in the treatment OF
Doth of August last, says:
* The most successful remedy for
cholera introduced into the hospitals OF
Newcastle and Gateshead in 1882, was
the tobacco enema. "A half drachm OF
tobacco prepared with half pint OF
water was administered and retained
in the intestnes,' and turned the tide
in many hopeless cases. In some
cases, two scruples of tobacco Infused
in nearly pint of boiling water was
! injected. The vomiting ceased about
an hour after the exhibition Of the
enema and did not return, nor dld the
purging continued The reports show
that hundreds Of lives might have been
spared by the tobacco enema If 1t had
been resorted to in time.
From what he has seen OF cholera
and of men in its course who have
escaped death from it, your correspond
ent carries the conviction that, If q
mild decoction of ripe, we'll cured an1
clean tobacco could be introduced into
the stomach and intestines, the force
of the disease would be broken, anC
the patient, by the assistance Of other
remedies, would, in a great majority
Of cases, recover
And I find in the Richmond Dispatch
of the 18th inst. the following:
1.-The attention Of the anti-tobaccC
professors and pastors is now respect
fully called to the official statement in
the Medical World that among the
thousands of men. women and children
employed in the tobacco factories in
Spain there has not been a single case
of an attack of the disease thus fal
during the cholera epidemic. New
y ork World.
8: Richmond, with her numerous
large tobacco factories, cigarette.
makers. and cigar-makers, ought to be
SAFE
Making altogether strong case in
favor of tobacco as being the great
remedy for that terrible plague which
is now threatening to decimate the
population of the entire globe. But
better still, it seems that the mere
handling of tobacco will keep off an
attack, that it possesses disinfectine
| power or acts in some way as an anti
dote to the cholera poison. II this be
fact, who can estimate its Importance
to the world at large? 1t will be the
grooming discovery OF the nineteenth
century! The tobacco leaf would then
be leaf for * the healing of the ma
TONS All would rejoice and be glad
and how doubly glad would be the
denizens of the Old North State once
ycleped Old Rip, now wide-awake and
straining every nerve for the produc-
ton and perfection Of the beautiful
gold leaf. But in all seriousness, il
the accounts from Spain be true, how
incalculable will be the consumption
Of tobacco, all grades Of it. The
stalks, stems and trash, burned in
large quantities within and around the
great cities, might prove to be not only
preventive of cholera, but Of other
| epidemics also.
| Respectfully submitted,
r. J. H. HATCHETT, NJ. D.
n. B.-Opium and its various prep
arations, so universally prescribed in
cholera, believe to be deadly poison
in that affection. A dose sufficiently
large to relieve spasm will cause death
by narcotism.
My observation Of the effects of
remedies in the collapse stage of Ash
attic cholera, stimulants and warming
applications are Of no avail, but that
sedatives, calomel in large doses,
chloroform, tobacco and other remedies
! OF that class, have often given relief.
Regarding tobacco as sedative, anti
spasmodic and relaxing agent of great
power, | would give it the preference
over all others, especially as l believe
that while relieving spasm, its fumes
would kill out the cholera germs.
Fires of inferior tobacco or the stalks
and stems (but better of good, strong
tobacco) started once or twice in
twenty-four hours in different parts Of
our large cities, and each family fumi-
gate its own premises with tobacco
smoke once, twice or thrice day. l
think would etfectually arrest the prog
ress Of this foil destroyer.
r. j. H. II.
The indications are that when Gen