Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1875 — Cholera and Its Prevention. [ARTICLE]

Cholera and Its Prevention.

In acchrdapce with the terms of a joint resolution adopted by the Forty-third Congress in March, 1874, setting forth that “ epidemic cholera had prevailed during the year 1873 in various parts of the United States, especially in the valley of the Mississippi, causing a deplorable mortality,” it was ordered that a medical officer of the army, in connection with the Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service, should ascertain the facts and make a detailed report on dr before the Ist of January, 1875. Dr. McClellan’s report is now published, and has been supplemented by a pamphlet written by Dr. John M. Wordsworth, Supervising Surgeon Merchant Marine Hospital Service, upon “ The Introduction of Epidemic Cholera into the United States Through the Agency of the Mercantile Marine.” If it be true, says the doctor, that cholera has always been brought to America by ships* the task of preventing future outbreaks within our border would seem to be comparatively easy. Malig-

n&nt cholera is caused by" the access of a specific organic poison to the alimentary canal. This poison is developed simultaneously only in certain parts of India (Ilindoostan). So far as the world outside of Hindoostan is concerned, it is contained primarily in the ejections of a person already aflected. To set up anew the action of the poison, a certain period of incubation, generally one of three days, with the presence Pf alkaline moisture, is required. Favorable conditions for the growth of the poison are found in ordinary potable water, in decomposing animal and vegetable matter, and in the alkaline contents of the intestinal portion of the alimentary canal. The period of morbific activity of the poison is characterized by the presence of bacteria] when bacteria is not present there is no danger. The dried particles, of cholera poison may be carried in clothing, bedding, etc., to any distance, and when liberated may find their way direct tb the alimentary canal through the medium of the air—by entering the mouth and nose and being swallowed with saliva, or through the medium of water or food in which they have lodged. Cholera poison is destroyed naturally either by the process of growth or by contact with acids contained in: water or soil, in the atmosphere or in the ! stomach.

A consideration of the means by which the disease is mmaei itoai infected tion to our shores, is, therefore, oi primary importance. It kaftj.Ueen very clewty demonstrated by the experience of <ltrarantine officers,. consuls, and medical men generally that the dkftger of InfeHiUn through marine transportation lies i*u f. in merchandise but in human beings and personal effect*. Under existing iqgula tions for the emigration service of most countries some sort of insjtectioh dTMseetage passengers is made, but unfortunately this inspection does hot extdn'd to cabin passengers or crew. Sailors are among the most active and widespread propagators of disease, and cabin passengers are not by any means exempt from the possibility of becoming pofson-carHers. In 1873 three distinct outbreaks of thedisea.se occurred at widely remote poinds iti the United States from poison packed anj, transported in the effects of emigrants from Holland. Sweden and Russia. Within twentyfour hours after the, poison particles were liberated the first cases of the disease' appeared. It being admitted that the very best quarantine administration, in the world may be deceived, the doctor suggests, in addition to the precautions pfter-' ward given, prompt ana authoritative information to threatened ports of the shipment of passengers cr goods from a chol-era-infected district. A medical officer, selected for his good judgment and attainments in sanitary science, should collect, digest and transmit’to. threatened ports the note of warning. Xlip 4 illusion of general sanitary knowledge must also be spread by the Government among the people themselves. The treatment of an infected or stispected vessel on arrival >at quarantine is now sufficiently. well understood. No arbitrary rules, says Dr. Vanderpool, can be laid down which shall be applicable to all vessels, but itis very certain that these rulfes cannot possibly either be too strict or searching. The appearance of the disease should be the signal for the most scrutinizing investigation and purification possible. We now come to consider the antidotes against this most formidable and deadly of all the enemies of life. In acids, according to the most practical sanitaristsof this country, lies the only assured safety against the cholera poison. When cholera occurs at sea, the patient should be brought on deck and laid upon a thick sailcloth, which should be thoroughly ini pregnated with sulphate of iron. Everything voided by the patient, witn his clothes, should fie thrown overboard. Both passengers and crew must be -put upon a mineral-acid regimen, with the view of establishing an acid diathesis of the system. Sulphuric acicliumonadc should "be served out regularly without fan; During the cholera visitation of 1866 Dr. Curtin made use of sulphuric acid in the Philadelphia Hospital with wonderful e fleet. The drink was made in this way: About twenty drops of the dilute sulphuric acid were mixed with four ounces of water, and sweetened with white sugar. Some oil of lemon and a few cut lemons greatly assisted in the disguise. The effects of sulphuric acid upon the system are tonic, astringent, refrigerant and diuretic. The accumulative -evidence of the experience of- the last-six-ty years, says the doctor, warrants the ground here taken, and there can be little doubt that we possess in the mineral acids a certain means of prophylaxis against cholera. These facts are of sufficient importance to command the attention of all sanitarians and the medical faculty, anil to be stored up in the memory .of people generally for use in case of need.—Chicago Inter-Ocean. A mouse in the wainscoting of the Western Union Telegraph office at Cincinnati recently wrought mischief, as mice generally do. The wires, insulated by a coating of cotton, soaked in paraffine, ran close together inside the wainscoting, and said mouse gnawed the insulation and so brought the wires together and connected some of the larger batteries. The wires became thereby heated and set fire to the insulating composition. Happily the smoke of the incipient fire was seen, the wainscoting torn away, and a serious conflagration averted.