Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-02-09
ABOUT CHOLERA



The very great general interest that at
taches to the subject eff cholera at this
time tempts me 10 write upon some very
interesting and far reaching discoveries
that have recently been made in Russia
by an American physician, and which
have been carefully tested at the cholera
hospital in st. Petersburg. would pre-
mise that by the recent extensive inVesti-
CATION of Dr. Arthur g. Blackstein, of
New York, which he has been carrying
on by direction of the Russian govern
ment, in the cholera district during the
past year, IL has been shown that cholera
bacteria, or coma bacteria of Koch, gets
in its fatal work in the intestinal tract
and nowhere else. Consequently, as DIR.
Blackstein says, 1--WE can only get cholera
by either eating 1t or drinking it," Mere
inhaling the bacteria is not sufficient TO
cause the disease, consequently as heat
destroys those bacteria security from the
disease may be reasonably expected il,
during cholera epidemics, one Is careful
only TO eat and drink such food as has
been recently cooked. When, however,
the bacilla obtain a location in the inteS-
final tract its work is prompt and deadly.
In view of these facts a young American
physician, DIR. Elmer Lee, resident ply
sician at the Palmer house, Chicago,
struck the idea that instead of trying to
destroy the bacteria of cholera after they
had obtained a Judgment in the bowels,
which has so far been found of doubt
full efficacy, If he could entirely work them
away ana remove them entirely from
the body a cure would be effected.
Consequently, having some cases Of en-
terOcRtitis, In Chicago, he tried the plan
of irrigatng the intestinal tract with a
solution Of CASTLE soap and found IL sue
ceSSful. As enterOcwlitis is "a similar dis
ease to cholera without. however, its
specific character, he determined to test
the effects OF the treatment upon genuine
cases Of Asiatic cholera. Consequently,
upon sept. 3, ls92, DIR. Elmer Lee quar-
tered himself at the Oleuchon Cholera
hospital. in st. Petersburg and submit
ted his views and experiences TO the med
zeal staff OF the hospital and asked to be
permitted TO test the matter under their
supervision. The medical staff, seeing
that the treatment was simple and rea
sonable, and In any case could do no
harm, placed one case at his disposal.
The case was one OF very grave cnarac-
ter, having been three days under other
treatment without Improvement. and was
then in the fatal cold stage. Ur. Elmer
Lee set 20 WORK and after an irrigation Of
the SoapSudS the man recovered. The
next day the medical staif Of the hospital
placed two more cases under his treat
meat and both recovered. Upon the third
daY they gave him four more cases, al Of
al az The tine ny Information dates from
be lreB1H1 TWe1iy-seVel cases q true
Asistie cholera -EnT g then 10 the list
si1Ee o. 90. lapse Aro C the twenty seven
cases only -ulr ed. The medical sl8f.
onserrLC suct wonderful results de-
terri De1 O. l5asi The treatment 10 al
cases @ cholera Thai VreseI tee them
selves and make thorough
test Tor one year and then report
results. lt is unnecessary 90 enter into
the ce-Hls o. This irrigation treatment Es
] an not nov writing Tor pruiessi0uur
readers v 10 are no doubt a well ur heltef
posted % This discovery lhlu j an. a.
! have reuireC from the practice OF med-
cine Tor some years The subject. how
ever. being trguEht with Interest 80 the
lay reader may be- acceptable al this
time. More especially an ] Influenced 90
bring this subject forward. as the carrier
OF good news Is always welcome. Hnu " nut
can be better news than 20 be able 10 te.I
thai the dread scuurge of AsiBtic cholera
can be fought success ully by simple
means, and at the same time 10 give credit
70 whom credit is due, and insert be Dr.
Elmer Lees name on the roll Of fame
along side Harvey. Jenner and Pasteur
and yther long time beueiactors 10 our
race. A. w THORNTON.