than 50 reported that the first cases of cho lera occurring within their boundaries were observed in individuals who had either themselves visited infected places, or who received visits from such localities. The parishes around Götheborg took for the most part few or no precautions, but kept up their daily intercourse with the town; and we accordingly find, by the appended map, that scarcely a single parish in that district escaped being sooner or later visited by the disease.

of the previously healthy establishment, and it is, therefore, hardly possible to disbelieve, in such cases, the influence of personal contact in spreading the disease.

"3. That it repeatedly happened, that when a previously healthy individual bad had communication with an infected person or locality, and had returned to his own home, where no cholera had hitherto appeared, he has sickened of the pestilence, and that the next victims have been his nearest relatives and friends, and not only 5. The influence of the affected persons those whose condition and habits of life were on their attendants and relatives has been favourable to the reception of the disease, already several times alluded to, but upon but even persons living in comfortable cirthis part of the subject we prefer to give a cumstances, and that the disease spread faithful transcript of Dr. Berg's own opin.again from these new foci. ions::

While it is ac knowledged that in such cases fear, afflic tion, and bodily exertion may have a certain influence, yet the effects of personal contact with the sick appear undeniable, unless it can be proved that such depressing influ ences will of themselves produce an attack of cholera at times when the disease does not prevail in the country.

"We must, therefore, come to the conclusion, not only that cholera can be thus propagated from one individual to another, but that this is really the mode by which it is spread over the country.

"The reports that have been laid before us appear not only to establish the fact that the visit of a healthy person to an infected locality may produce in such an individual an attack of cholera, either immediately or not till some days after he has returned to his yet healthy residence, but also, 1, that in spite of the salutary and purifying influence which the sea air and the sea breezes may exercise upon a ship which has left an infected port, cholera may break out on board of such a vessel at any time during at least fourteen days after she has been at sea.* We must either admit that in such a case the disease has been caught in the infected port, and has lain dormant for a time in the system of its victims, the pre-reports are, we think, of such force, as to monitory diarrhoea, the first symptom often of the malady having been overlooked or concealed, or else that the ship itself has become the receptacle of a store of miasm while sojourning in port, and which pesti lential vapour or miasm breaking forth, at length affects the crew with cholera."

It has, however, rarely happened that many of a ship's crew were seized at once; the disorder has crept from individual to individual in a fashion eminently favourable to the doctrine of contagion.

"2. That after individuals affected with cholera have been removed from such ships into a quarantine hospital, the disease has broken out among the officers and servants

It would be very interesting to obtain some positive data as to the period of incubation in cholera as compared with other zymotic diseases. As regards measles, the researches of Dr. Panum, in Feroe, have, we think, fairly proved that the period

of incubation for that disorder is from fourteen to sixteen days.

"While we admit that possibly cholera may be generated in other countries, and even in Sweden, by local influences alone, the facts elicited in the examination of these

overbalance entirely the negative results obtained as to the origin of the disease in Götheborg, Rönneby, and Döderhultsvik, in favour of the origin of cholera in these places from a local cause." (p. 340.)

The fact that hundreds of persons visited those sick of cholera and yet escaped the disease, is estimated by Dr. Berg at its true value. After remarking that the same is known to occur in all infectious diseases, he admits that something more than mere personal contact, or the inhaling of the miasm from the sick, is required to produce the disorder; that there is some predisposition necessary in the case of the recipient individual, without which he may escape altogether unharmed. What this condition of the system is, we cannot at present define, but we are well convinced that want and misery, uncleanly dwellings and habits, a foul and stagnant atmosphere, and, above all, perhaps, the abuse of spirituous liquors,

acknowledge the necessity of good drainage in our cities, and the protective benefits of cleanliness, temperance, and good food; but the great strongholds of disease-the very foci of infection-our low lodging. houses in the towns, villages, and hamlets, have been too often overlooked; and while deceiving the public by an outward show of cleanliness, their whitewashed walls have concealed a charnel- house within.

with its long train of accompanying evils, ties, as in the isolated parishes and thinly are causes that most powerfully predispose { scattered villages of Sweden, such prophyindividuals to receive infection. It is against lactic measures may be, and undoubtedly these, then, that our energies must be direct-have been, available, as they have likewise ed, in order to mitigate their influence by a proved efficacious in our northern islands, well-conducted sanitary reform. We do where, although in a sanitary point of view not mean by this, the boasted activity of every circumstance favoured the progress of well-meaning but mistaken poor-law guard- cholera, yet a strict quarantine enforced on jans and magistrates, who, when roused the few vessels that visited their shores, into activity by the near approach of pesti-effectually protected these islands from the lence, enter upon a crusade against the pestilence. Since, then, we cannot hope to noisome drains, sewers, and privies of our exclude the pestilence altogether, let us optowns; and having perfected their work by pose every obstacle to its progress, and whitewashing the walls of each filthy alley, mitigate the severity of its ravages by effectbelieve that they have done all that is requi-ive sanitary measures. On the advantages site to repel the invading toe; meanwhile, of sanitary reform all parties are agreed-all the lodging houses, of which the walls have just been cleansed, are permitted to be crowded night and day with the pallid, half. starved victims of intemperance and disease-fit food for any pestilence that may appear; and should cholera be introduced among these, scarcely an individual, as we have ourselves witnessed, will escape the contagion. Without the separation of the sick from the healthy, or, at least, unless an abundance of fresh air is permitted to circu Of the care and attention bestowed by Jare around the beds of the affected persons, Dr. Berg in the preparation of this able Recholera will be propagated through conta-port, it is impossible to speak too highly; gion in these lodging-houses every time that it visits our shores. Should we, then, have recourse to quarantine regulations for the protection of our coasts? We think not. Quarantine, in a country so dependent for its prosperity upon its foreign trade, is, in our opinion, a greater evil than the cholera itself. To be of any avail, such a quarantine involves an almost absolute cessation of in tercourse with infected countries; no loop-unfrequently been successful. Immediately hole must be left whereby the disease might upon the first appearance of the disease creep in amongst us. Is there any one who give a mustard emetic. Do not mind believes that this is practicable? is there its being instantaneously rejected; repeat any person who will maintain that by theit; and even again, should neither remain most stringent penal enactments we can longer than three or four minutes in the effectually isolate England from the rest of stomach. If the emetic remains, it will be the world? And if we cannot accomplish unnecessary to give another. Since the se this, then our imperfect measures of restric. verity of the symptoms are generally sus tion will be infinitely more prejudicial than {pended for a time under this management, no quarantine regulations at all. Starvation you have now the opportunity of giving and misery among the working classes, the inevitable results of the closure of our ports, would create a tenfold predisposition to the disease; and should cholera then be wafted to our shores, twenty victims would fall before it for one that would have died, if the trade of our great commercial country had continued unchecked. In small communi

and it would form an excellent model to be followed in the documents to be issued by any future Board of Health.

Treatment of Cholera. By H. W. REED, M. D.-Perhaps the experience of cholera during a ten years' residence in India, may not be unacceptable. The following treatment I have found useful, and it has not

other remedies, without the discouragement of finding them immediately ejected as formerly. Next give half a grain of the mu. {riate of morphia, and three grains of nitrate of potash, every half hour till the pulse increases in vigour and volume, and reaction becomes steady. The first dose of morphia may even be three-quarters of a grain or a

grain or half a grain may be repeated in and the admiral of the fleet. In consea quarter of an hour. The case, it must be quence, Nouriddin Shah had returned on remarked, is dangerous, and admits not of the 1st of October to Teheran. Persia has delay; while to prevent a return of vomiting been visited with severe calamities lately. and collapse is most important. This effect- Teheran has lost by the cholera 11,000 ined, there is a probability of safety to the habitants; Ispahan, up to the 20th Septempatient. Should the vomiting return, try ber, 9,700; Tabris, 10,000; and Kermen, the emetic again, or frequently moisten the 7,000. Whole villages have died off, or the tongue with a concentrated solution of mor- { inhabitants have fled to the mountains.— phia. The effect produced, and not the Med. Times and Gaz. Feb. 11, 1854. quantity of morphia administered, must form the criterion for its repetition. phuric ether at the same time may be advantageously inhaled from a handkerchief; it tends considerably to allay pain and spasm.

Sul

MEDICAL NEWS.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

The Alleghany County Medical Society held its regular quarterly meeting in Ar thur's Hall, on Tuesday last, Jan 3, where the annual election of officers took place, when the following gentlemen were chosen for the ensuing year:

President-Dr. C. L. Armstrong.
Vice-Presidents-Drs. J. P. Gazzam and
John McCracken.

Corresponding Secretary-Dr. A. M. Pol

lock.

During the course of the disease, at all times allow the patient to satisfy his thirst with copious draughts of water, in which a drachm of carbonate of soda to the quart is dissolved. It will be rendered more grateful and better adapted for the condition of the stomach by the further addition of citric{ acid. Do not be deterred by its being rejected two or three times, still encourage the patient to drink freely. Foment the stomach with hot turpentine on flannels, or apply large mustard poultices made with turpentine; rub the extremities assiduously with flannels, which may be soaked in tur pentine and water. In addition, the bed should be artificially warmed; the spirit-rington, G. D. Bruce. lamp so made for that purpose is perhaps the best method. Sixty or eighty drops of laudanum, in an ounce of any bland fluid, may be thrown up the rectum. This should be retained as long as possible, and not repeated unless it has escaped.

The reaction which succeeds in a favour. able case to the first violence of the disease is sometimes severe and complicated, and will require its appropriate management.

No

In cases of British cholera, the morphia and ether, with the mustard externally, will generally be found to succeed in a few hours, even though the disease be attended with cramps and incessant vomiting. case of cholera can receive a fair chance without the constant presence and unremitting attention of the practitioner.-Assoc. Med Journ. Dec. 23, 1853.

Recording Secretaries-Drs. Thomas J.
Gallaher and E. G. Edrington.

Treasurer-Dr. A. M. Pollock.
Censors-Drs. R. B. Mowry, E. G. Ed-

Examiners-Drs. J. P. Gazzam, A. M. Pollock, D. M'Meal.

Delegates to the National Medical Convention-Drs. J. P. Gazzam, Thomas J. Gallaher, George D. Bruce, A. M. Pollock, Geo. McCook.

Delegates to the State Medical Convention-Drs. D. M'Meal, W. Draine, J. Carothers, J. M'Cracken, E. F. Williams, J. H. Wilson, J. W. Shaw, N. McDonald, J. H. O'Brien.

The following is a list of members of the Society :

C. L. Armstrong, Wm. Addison, G. D. Bruce, H. R. Bell, Alexander Black, H. H. Breckenbridge, Jas. Carothers, John Dickson, Thomas Dickson, W. Draine, Samuel Dilworth, E. G. Edrington, Wm. M. Gray, Jos. P. Gazzam, J. W. Gustine, Thomas J. Gallaher, Jas. B. Herron, Wm. M. Herron, Cholera in Persia.-The mortality in the John S. Irwin, R. B. Mowry, John Martin, camp for military exercises at Sultanieh, William M'K. Morgan, J. J. Myers, N. amounted to 80 cases a day. Out of from McDonald, G. McCook, F. McGrath, A. 35,000 to 40,000 troops, about 2,000 have G. McCandles, D. M'Meal, J. McCracken, died, including a few generals, mustaphas, } J. H. O'Brien, John Pollock, A. M. Pol

lock, B. R. Palmer, J. W. Shaw, Jas. D.} Shields, Jno. Wilson, J. H. Willson, C. F. Williams, Thos. Perkins.

THOS. J. GALLAHER,

Secretary.

Army Medical Board.-The Army Medical Board, which convened in the city of New York, on the first day of December last (1853), for the examination of assistant surgeons for promotion, and of applicants{ for appointment in the medical staff of the army, adjourned sine die, on the 4th inst.Journ. Com.

OBITUARY RECORD.-Died in Columbus, Ohio, on the 16th of January, 1854, in the 45th year of his age, RICHARD L. HOWARD, By this board the following assistant sur-M. D., formerly editor of the Ohio Medical geons (named according to rank), were ex- and Surgical Journal, and Professor of amined, and found qualified for promo-Surgery in Starling Medical College.

tion:

Assistant Surgeons-William J. Sloan, Thomas C. Madison, Joseph K. Barnes, Levi H. Holden, Charles C. Keeney, Robert Murray, John F. Head, Israel Moses, John F. Hammond, Elisha J. Baily, George E. Cooper, Glover Perin.

Died, on the 30th of October, 1853, in the 70th year of his age, JOHN ESTER COOKE, M.D. Dr. Cooke had acquired considerable reputation as a practitioner of medicine in Virginia, when he was induced to remove to Lexington, to occupy the chair of the Practice of Medicine, rendered vacant by The board also examined and approved the resignation of Dr. Drake. He subsethe following candidates for appointment in quently filled the same chair in the Medical the medical staff of the army: Robert Institute of Louisville. In conjunction Southgate, Virginia; Robert L. Brodie, with Dr. Short, he originated, and for South Carolina; Dewitt C. Peters, New many years, edited the Transylvania JourYork; Albert J. Myer, New York; Na-nal of Medicine. Dr. Cooke was a volu thaniel S. Crowell, South Carolina; Josephminous writer, latterly, we believe, princiR. Smith, New York; James T. Ghiselin, pally on theological subjects. Maryland; Pascal A. Quinan, Maryland; John F. Randolph, Louisiana; James C. Herndon, Virginia; George Taylor, Maryland; John J. Gaenslen, Virginia; George Hammond, Maryland; Wm. J. L. Engle, Florida; Bernard J. D. Irwin, New York.

The Stethoscope.-This journal has been purchased by the Medical Society of Virginia, and will henceforth be the organ of that influential association. We regret to part with Dr. Gooch, who has always conducted this journal in an independent spirit, and boldly upheld the character of our pro. fession, from the editorial corps. But we are convinced that its present able editors, Drs. T. P. Akinson, R. W. Haxall, Jas. Bolton, R. A. Lewis, A. T. B. Merritt, and J. G. Cabell, sustained by the influ ence of the medical profession of the Ancient Dominion. will enlarge its influence and utility, and that it will be an efficient agent in the diffusion of medical knowledge, and in maintaining the dignity and honor of the profession.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Coffee Leaves.-Dr. STENHOUSE states that the coffee leaves, when digested with boiling water, yielded a deep brown infusion, which in taste and odour closely resembled an infusion of a mixture of coffee and tea. On the addition of milk and sugar, it formed a very tolerable beverage, and as the roasted coffee-leaf can be imported into Europe for rather less than twopence per pound, the poorer classes, are likely to find it a very useful substitute for tea and coffee. Should a more moderate temperature be employed in drying the leaf, I think its fla vour would be greatly improved.-Philos. Magazine.

The Closing of the Burial Grounds in London.-Besides the drainage of the soil, the removal of filth, and the adequate sup. ply of pure waters—of living waters, as they have been well called-the entire cessation of the burial of the dead in churches

and churchyards in towns is an indispensa. and there is no controlling power over the ble sanitary measure. The execution of this different companies, because the public are delicate and important measure has been not aware of the presence of these impuri. intrusted by the Secretary of State to Dr.ties. I think nothing is so important as that Sutherland; and the following statement the chemical qualities of the gas should, shows that it has been prosecuted with no from time to time, be tested. Testing gas ordinary activity and success in the Metro-at the works is all nonsense, because after polis: 1. Nearly every vault under churches travelling two or three miles it undergoes and chapels has been or is under order for such a change that there is no comparison closing. 2. Burials have been prohibited between the quality of the gas supplied to within every church and chapel where they the public and at the works. Whatever is are known to have taken place. 3. One destructive to inert matter must necessarily hundred and eighty one burial grounds, pa- be more injurious to living matter.”—Dub. rochial or private, have been closed, or are Medical Press. under order for closing immediately. 4. 61 parochial or private burial grounds are under notice or order for closing within a limited period, almost all within a few months. 5. Sixteen burial-grounds are partially closed, all the interments except those in private vaults and graves being prohibited. 6. Thirteen burial grounds are closed under conditions for the protection of the public health. Lastly, nearly all the remaining grounds within the Metropolitan districts are now under inquiry.-RegistrarGeneral.

The Heroic Conduct of the Surgeon of the Tayleur."-Most of our readers have probably read in the newspapers an account of the heroic conduct of Mr. Cunningham, the surgeon of the ship "Tayleur," recently wrecked on the coast of England. The following just and beautiful tribute to his memory is from the pen of Dickens :

:

"When these men perish at their work, they do not die with soldiers' laurels, but their names become connected with their last brave actions, and are told by Englishmen to one another in their households, so

Deleteriousness of London Gas.-Dr. Le-that in after years they receive honour by THEBY, in detailing before the Court of Sew-many a fireside. The surgeon of the Tayers some of the results arrived at by him in his analytical researches on the gas supply of London, said: "In the course of the investigations which I have been making during the last two years, I find that some of the companies are supplying gas to this metropolis which in the course of a few years will tend to damage very much the atmosphere and the property in it, for it is so highly charged with sulphuret, that I am able to obtain 21 grains of oil of vitriol from 100 cubic feet of gas, which is getting into the atmosphere. Then, again, there is a quantity of ammonia, which holds in solution a large quantity of tar, and whenever there is a leakage in the streets, oozes out. During the last fifty years, when it has got into the public roads, it has rendered the soil near to it so offensive that you can hardly move the pavement without doing a great deal of harm. What it may be in twenty years hence I cannot say, but I think it will be almost unsafe that you should then disturb the pavements at all. There is not a library in the metropolis, the books on the upper shelves of which are not tumbling to pieces from this cause;

leur was conspicuous in his exertions for the reassurance and assistance of the shipwrecked passengers. We read at home, how, while struggling across a rope, with his own infant in his hands and teeth, he was plunged into the sea that dashed his child out of his hold; we read that he was seen, then, holding by the ship's side with a drowning woman in his arms, whose hair he was parting gently, and to whom he seemed to be speaking words of comfort. Her, too, the sea forced from his grasp; and we read that he was next seen perishing with his wife, during a vain struggle to save her. The noble man with his little itfamily-his wife and two children-is swept away; he exists now only in the name of ROBERT HANNAY CUNNINGHAM. But these are the men whom we want living among us; these are the energies that we need for the leavening of all society, and for the work of the world. These are not men to be sent out in emigrant ships to the bottom of the sea. Their memory, too, will be best honoured if we be indignantly aroused, for their sakes, to amend an evil.”—Lancet, Feb. 25, 1854.