Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-15
CHOLERA CAUSES.
IT Is THE DUTY OF PHYSICIANS TO FANL-
IARlZE THEMSELVES
With Previous Outbreaks So as to Prevent Il
Sread-NOt Contagious, But laiecdOus-Rav-
ages Of the Disease Generally Confined to
Low Lying, Poorly Ventilated and
Crowded Quarters.


American physicians now living who
have had any experience with chOiera,
and, therefore, il becomes the duty OF
our profession TO familiariZe themselves
with the history Of previous epidemlcs'
the causes that produce the disease, the
means best adapted 10 prevent its spread
and the treatment OF those effected by
it. Nearly all writer's agree that cholera
is produced by some specific poison or
disease germ, and modern 6acteriolog-
lists claim 10 have discovered its exact
nature, 10 which they have given the
name SUiriiilm chOlCr0e, or comma
bacillus. This minute organism,
when once introduced IN the
stomach, multjptieS with great
rapidly and produce disease. II left In
contact with decaying animal or yege-
table substance. continues TO multiply
and is carried through the air, till 1t Is
lodged I'm new soil, thus impregnating
both the water we drink and the food
we eat. 1t is generally admitted that
these bacili must enter the stomach or
fntestineS 20 produce the disease, but
the history OF cholera epidemicS demon
strates that they must at times be car
ried by the air in some way, so as 10
affect the food und water supplies at
long distances, otherwise the rapid
spread OF the disease cannot be &C
counted for. 10 is not a contagious DIS
ease, but an infectious one, aud II we
effectually StertiliZe the eXcreta OF
cholera patients there is no danger OF
its spreading.
REPORTS OF THE HEALTH BOARDS.
'.The efforts Of the health boards to
clean our city are praiSewOrthy, and the
rules promulgated by them should be
closely followed, but other reforms are
needed, not only to prevent the devel-
opment Of cholera, but 70 improve the
general hygienic condition Of the peO-
Die. The garbage which is now allowed
10 accumulate 40 the several docks,
should be burned every nightin proper
" constructed incinerating furnaces, as
is done in ST. Louis. instead OF being
scattered I'm the ocean, where 1t Is
washed ashore TO breed peStilence almost
at our doors. Should chOlero gain a
footing i'm the city this must DO the first
step taken TO prevent its spread.
The question Of quarantine is an i'm
portaut one and must be determined by
the nature Of the disease. II is a recog-
nizad fact the period of incubation Of
cholera ranges from a few hours TO four
or i've days az the outside. 10 is equally
true that one person cannot take the
disease from another. IL must, there
fore, follow that a steamer that has
been on the Atlantic from six 10 eight
days and arrives In port with the pass
engers all free from the disease should
4 Ia, for il
not likely that it has carried any Of the
cholera germs with it. II II hasit must
be i'm the clothing OF the passengers and
the freight of the vessel. Would IL not
be enough then that a thorough fumi-
CATION and diSinfectiOn should be en-
forced without OBTAINING passengers at
the dictum of single individual
DETENTION OF PASSENGERS,
Gwen in cases where the disease has
occurred on ShiDbOard during the vOy-
age, it is an outrage on the personal
liberty of those who have escaped the
disease TO compel them 10 remain with
I'm the narrow limits of the infected
ship. while the DeStilenCe continues its
Favages, and must Of necessity be ag-
gravated by the foul air and personal
uncleanlineSs that must prevail. IL
would be infinitely better 10 transfer
the passengers who have not been at
tackled 70 tents on shore, 10 subject each
one 70 some disiniecting process, such
as may be had In a Turkish bath, 70 SUI
Derheat their baggage and clothing and
then allow them to 90 their way. What
is required is to kill all germs so that
they cannot be conveyed 70 soil that
would multiply them. When the na-
ture of the disease is known this can
be done in the OBJECTIONS Of those sick
with the disease; then, why not on the
persons aud clothing OF those who, be-
Eag exposed have suCcumbed TO it?
"We venture the prediction that
should the disease continue to spread
among those on shipbOard in the bay, it
will sooner reach the city than it would
have done had all well passengers been
permitted 20 co as soon as they were
thoroughly disinfected.
n physicians cannot be too positive In
RsSerting that the comma baCili are not
htirst capable OF producing the disease.
IThey must remain In some decOmpOSing
,animal or vegetable mass long enough
10 produce themselves before they be-
,COme active. IL is evident, then, that
il these germs are destroyed they eau
not reproduce themselves. ItiS equally
true that IL our cities are so thoroughly
ceansed as TO leave no soil in which
they can fructiiy, they can do no harm.
IF both these precautions are taken our
food and water supplies cannot become
impregnated, and consequently we can
have no cholera.
WHERE CHOLERA RACES.
when cholera attacks community
its ravages are generally conied to the
lOW-lying, filthy, poorly ventilated and
crowded quarters, and it attacks those
whose vitality is reduced by previous
sickness, lack Of proper nutrition or
iutemperance. Fear, OF itself, does not
tend TO cause the disease; but with many
persons the fear becomes an ever pres
ent terror which soon wears out the
nervous system, and thus reduces the
general vitality 70 such a degree that
the system becomes debilitated and
readily takes on the disease.
TREATMENT RECOMMENDED.
"With most Of US the treatment must
De experimental, as no settled line OF
treatment has ever been decided on In
past eDidemics. All vail agree, how
ever, that rest TO the recumbent posi-
ton should be enjoined at the very on
set of the disease. Following the lines
OF our treatment of cholera mOrbus,
however, we would be inclined to apply
hot lamentations or a hot water bag to
the abdomen and hot mustard foot
bath 10 the feet and legs. A table, |
spoonful OF tincture Of prickly-ash oer-
ries. in three ounces Of hot water, can |