Documenting the American South

Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2011

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The Cholera. [1]

We have selected the above as the subject of our dissertation, not with the design or vanity of adding anything new, but on account of its dreaded power and present proximity to us. Since the days of Pandora, whom dareing curiosity and prying disposition led to open the fatal present containing the thousands of ills, to which flesh is heir; no disease simple or compound has, in so short time, caused so much destruction among the human family.

It comes upon us, not as disease in its general form and expected from age, time, season or locality, but at one time noiselessly like a thief in the night; [2] again boldly and fearlessly like the warhorse to battle; and again as the

volcano destroying and consumeing all that may oppose it. It makes no distinction between persons or places; entering the palace of the rich and the hovel of the poor, breathing alike its pestilential breath upon the velvety cheek of youth or the frosty brow of age. The King and the beggar are alike subject to its power, and it kisses the rosy lip of royalty and the emaciated one of poverty with equal gusto.

As capricious in will as independent in taste; we find it suddenly raising its Gorgon head in the midst of some devoted people, tarrying with them for a while, and then as suddenly departing wheresoever it wills. Pausing for awhile as if for breath or repose, or from satiety; we find

it as suddenly returning, none knowing from whence it came. Again we find it passing telegraphically passing over plains, valleys, mountains, rivers, and even old ocean herself, devastating all in its way, fearing no law obeying no rule. We generally find its presence in places where its power can be most severely felt, in crowded cities and populous districts; dwelling so long as it wills, but never departing, until, like Medusa of old, it leaves many a monument of stone to mark where its path has been. But may not some modern M.D. arise; like Perseus of old and discovering through the mirror of science its deformities, with the sword of Esculapius destroy its powerand register it among the things that were? As an Epidemic Cholera was first known by the medical profession of Europe in the year 1817 [3] Breaking out in one of the provinces of India, it first appeared slow in its progress, remaining on its native soil as if to perfect its power before attacking the world. From this as its centre it seems to have gradually encircled all the surrounding countries, until it had grasped the whole of Asia.

Pausing for a few years seemingly in a survey of its conquests and buying its destructive tribute upon its miserable subjects; not content with its power, and ambitious of travel, we find it fairly journeying through Europe

in the year 1830. In two short years from its entrance, we find London and Paris yielding to its its sway; and in the same year it made its omnipotent bow in the land of Freedom. [4] After journeying through this country, makeing partial returns for the space of two years, it left us to feed upon the vain hope of eternal freedom from [5] its power. Deluded by this and lulled into security by its absence for 14 years, we had ceased to know it except by name. After that lapse of time, it has again suddenly and without an admonition placed its foot upon our shores, and stretching forth its powerful arm has in a few weeks, transmitted its influence from New-York to New-Orleans, where it is now rageing with extreme violence. [6] As regards the nature of this disease, Physicians disagree in many points; some considering it as a pure gastro-enteritis; others rejecting this idea in part and advanceing the opinion, that there is a specific cause, capable by its direct action of produceing the phenomena of this disease. In support of the first, it is advanced that the phenomena have their root in this affection, or how could we account for the burning sense of heat in the stomach? The antecedent nausea, vomiting & diarrhea, and the undeniable evidences of positive inflammation after reaction? How explain? that indigestible substances and active or acrid cathartics brought on thedisease or augmented the symptoms?

On the other hand it is admitted that there is a partial inflammation of the gastro-intestinal-mucous-membrane, but not of sufficient intensity to indicate is as the basis of this disease. They alledge, that no one familiar with inflammation of this membrane sufficient to cause death, can account for its ready submission to the mildest remedies. Admitting an inflammation of this membrane and its tendency to the secretions of that organ; they still deny it power of produceing the phenomena, alledgeing that the injection after death was venous, that the matter exuded was the fibrinous and albuminous portion of the blood, that it was not confined to that organ, but was found in the mucous

membrane of the urinary canal, in the parenchyma of other organs and even in the skin, when there could be no subcutaneous inflammation. This immense loss of the fluids of the body, (peculiar to this disease) by rendering the blood too thick to pass the capillaries and reach the aerating surfaces, will account for the sudden collapse, the shrinking of the extremities and the burning thirst. By it also, the other secretions were diminished or ceased, the serous portion of the blood passing out through the exhalents. As regards the nervous phenomena, there is some difficulty in their solution, being found worse in [7] many cases when the alimentary canal was least affected, and on the other hand collapse takeingplace, when the evacuation were insufficient in point of proof; but in all cases, this peculiar exhalation or Cholera discharge was found. The inference then drawn and the opinion generally held by the Medical Profession, is, "that this cause is distinct from that of any other disease, and capable in itself of produceing all the phenomena, acting as a direct sedative to the system at large and as an irritant to the mucous membrance of the alimentary canal.

We will not worry your patience farther with all we might learn and write of its Diagnosis, Prognosis, Treatment and Autopoic appearances, feeling that it would not only be an imputation of ignorance to yourselves, but a

thankless task upon your time.

As regards its being contagious or non-contagious; after a study of all the opinions advanced on both sides, we are in favor of the latter doctrine, which is the one generally held by the medical profession of this country and of Europe.

In conclusion, we will remark, that thus far we have escaped the ravages of this modern Hydra, as if it feared to attack us; but should it come, may each of you prove a modern Hercules, and wielding the knotty club of Medicine, crush its detested and fearful head, and with the actual cautery of science, sear and seal its power forever?