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has not yet determined, but where it exists is well known, and so are
some of the media of its transmission from district to district, from
family to family, and from person to person. If not absolutely existent
in the matters discharged by vomiting and purging, the specific virus or
germ of cholera is developed in them as soon as they undergo, as they
do after a short time, a process of decomposition. Hence the danger of
transmission of the disease by bedding, clothing, dust, and dirt soiled
by the discharges thrown or falling upon them. It is a disgusting truth,
but one which ought not to be concealed, that the chief danger consists
in the reception of these germs of cholera by the mouth into the
digestive canal, in water, and (perhaps from soiled hands) upon articles
of food. The earliest result of the introduction of cholera poison is
diarrhoea, which, in the majority of cases, precedes for some hours the
choleraic attack. It is in this early diarrhœal stage that it is most
amenable to medical treatment.
If then we would, in what is called an epidemic season, prevent the
invasion of cholera into a district, the following things must be done.
].—Filth of all kinds must be removed from houses, yards, rooms, and
persons, and more especially excrementitious or foecal filth must
be cleansed away.
2.—Destitution must be relieved with an open hand. Not only should
none be in want, but all should be liberally fed.
3. —Great care should be taken that the water drunk is pure, and
contains no dangerous organic contamination. The addition of
a table-spoonful of Condy's Disinfecting Fluid to the water in a
clean cistern is calculated to ensure this, and will not damage
the water.
4.—Should the existence of cholera poison manifest itself anywhere in
the production of cholera or choleraic diarrhoea, disinfectants
should be freely used, in the manner directed on the handbills
which I have drawn up for circulation.
5.—Every case of diarrhoea must receive immediate medical treatment.
The principle must be accepted and acted upon, that any and
every diarrhœa that occurs may be premonitory of a choleraic
attack. Thus only can we avoid overlooking those which really
are so. Half-an-hour's delay in obtaining the relief of the
earliest symptoms, and the line may be passed which separates
recovery from death.