The herald., 1893-08-06

.
the German who spread the alarm, re.
covered, and the doctors practice be-
came immense. 1t extended over nearly
the entire territory.
The plague spread 60 rapidly and
proved 30 fatal that many became panic
stricken. Nearly all kinds of business
was for the time being suspended, and
although it was in the midst OF the har.
vest season many let their crops stand
in the fields uncared for.
The death rate was 90 great that rough
wooden boxes were improvised. Rela-
tiyes and neigh bors performed the duties
of the sexton, dispensing with the for
malities Of regular funeral.
A lew days after the 4th of July met
the doctor in the street. He asked me
II would like to take ride with him
to see some OF his patients.
accepted his invitation and got into
his carriage. He looked weary and de-
pressed, having been almost constantly
on the 90 since his fret cali. He had
an easy two-seated carriage and changed
horses two or three times day.
He told me where he was going, re-
quested me to drive, which ibid, while
he lay down on the back seat and in five
minutes was sound asleep The drive
was about seven miles and did not
awaken the doctor until I had hitched
the horses at the place OF bis visit.
We found the German, his wife and
daughter down with the cholera. The
doctor gave them medicine and left a
supply, with directions how to admin
lister it.
There were two brothers and young
er sister who were not stricken with the
disease.
On our return the next day we found
the man on the way to recovery, the
wife and daughter dead, one OF the sons
and the other daughter down with
cholera. They, however, finally re-
remember one time about midnight
we were going to Oldenburg, German
village eight miles west from where we
lived, where there were IL or 10 cases OF
cnolera. We were within three or four
miles OF the place when we were over
taken by messenger who had been
sent for the doctor, by man of some
prominence, who had suddenly severe
attack of cholera. The doctor was
asleep when l stopped the horses.
When l bad aroused him the young
man delivered his message. The doc.
tor asked me what we had better do. l
advised him to return, which we did,
and our horses being fresh, we were not
long In making the nine mile drive.
We found the gentleman in bed, making
q great racket, his wife and six children
crying and wringing their hands.
He WAS q man that would tip the
beam at 200 pounds; the very personi
tication of health, but clesr case of
fright. well remember his forid com.
plexion and the perspiration rolling
down his face. The doctor asked him il
he had cramps. He said mo-" "Have
you been purging?" mo" "Been
vomiting" NO" "Then what's the
matter?" "Oh. I've got the cholera and
Pm going to die; ! know l will" The
doctor motioned to me to step outside
with him, and when out Of hearing dis
tance the doctor said: "There is abso-
lutely nothing the matter with that fell
low except fright" and asked noe what
he ought to do. l suggested that it
would be we'll to give him something
something that will make him id
doctor coming next day. 1t was after
found our patient az limp az cravat.
He said he had been awful sick. We
made three more visits to our patient,
and left him cured of his fright and in
normal condition. had another some
what unpleasant 81 ,ee1peEjiencs NTH this
ssms gsptlAmAhTi ! and his 'Yt4s few
months later, NV When 1 settled up the
Ss sSs'SEs ss S9ss as .hs 10,
others: maRihg Q total Of 30 the wife
insisted on my Accepting ST. Which re-
fused, and not unfit made second call,
and finding them etill obstinate, re.
counted to'them the scene on the night
of our first visit; the groans Of the hue
band, the crying and distress of the
family, and the deplorable condition of
the young widow. He gave me his note
for SO, payable six months after date,
and we parted on good terms. When
the note came due the interest amounted
to 27 cents and he again became hostile
because / refused to knock off the 2
cents and take 25 cents. He has long
since gone to his reward.
Another case, but with quite differ
ent result, was that of man whom 1
met one day on his way to dinner. We
were we'll acquainted, and stopped for
few moments conversation. While we
were talking another gentleman came
up and asked him if he had heard OF the
death of q man with whom he was well
acquainted. He said he had not. The
gentleman told him he had died about
10 O'Clock that morning. saw that the
news had very depressing effect on
him.
He was a large, robust man. His
sleeves were rolled up above his elbows,
he was perspiring profuseiy, and was
picture OF perfect health. His house was
only short distance from where we were
standing. He Immediately went home,
went to bed and died with q well de-
veloped case of cholera before 6 o'clock
In the evening.
While this was the most sudden fatal
case that came under my observation, l
knew many others In which had every
reason to believe the disease was super
induced by fright, causing relaxation
of the whole system, thereby placing
the victim In fit condition to contract
the disease and powerless to repel it.
One evening on our return home the
doctors wife told him call had been
made for him to go immediately to a
family living about six miles distant.
The case seemed to be urgent, and we
took hasty supper and started.
The night was extremely dark, the
weather sultry and storm approach
ing. We had good deal of difficulty in
finding the way. Neither of us slept
any on that trip.