Definition

This is a disease brought on from indigestion.

Etiology

Those who are subject to cholera morbus have brought on enervation from hard work, hot weather, and excessive eating and bad food combinations. It usually develops suddenly a short time after a heavy meal.

Symptoms

There is vomiting, with purging, and cramps of the muscles of the hands, arms, feet, and legs. It is hard to tell in what way the patient suffers most. The cramps usually make the subject of this disease writhe with agony. It requires several attendants to rub and hold the fingers, hands, and arms straight, because the cramp is so fierce that it rolls the fingers into the palms of the hands, the hands on to the forearm, and the forearm on to the arm. If genuine Asiatic cholera is many times more severe than this disease when developed at its worst, it is easy to see why the mortality is so great; indeed, it is a wonder that anyone can survive the disease for any length of time.

The worst forms of cholera morbus that I have seen have gone so far as to have what is known as "rice-water discharges." I have not seen or heard of a case for fifty years; but previous to that, in doing a general practice, I was called to see several cases of this disease every summer. At that time I used drugs--used hypodermics of morphine; but today I should handle such cases very differently.

Treatment

As soon as possible, the patient should be put into a hot bath, of a temperature of 100° F.; then hot water should be added until the temperature has been increased to the patient's toleration; and the bath should be continued until complete relaxation is obtained. If the suffering is not too profound at the outset, the bowels should be washed out by a copious enema--two or three quarts of water and a tablespoonful of bicarbonate of soda; but, after the patient is once in the bath, he should be kept there until relaxed and comfortable. So long as there is any tendency for cramping of the muscles, the bath must be continued. The water should not be allowed to cool. A certain amount should be dipped out and replaced by hot, so as to keep the temperature of the bath just as hot as the patient can tolerate. When put to bed, the patient is to be left quietly alone. Artificial heat should be put to the feet. If anything is given internally, it should be hot water. Positively no food of any kind must be given until all symptoms have passed away and the patient has been comfortable for twenty-four hours. Then baked apples may be given for breakfast; at noon, lamb broth or chicken broth; and baked apples for the evening meal. The second day, baked apples for breakfast; at noon, a little stewed meat, and a combination salad or grapefruit; and in the evening, two ounces of toasted bread and an apple. The next day, baked apples for breakfast; baked potato and a salad for the noon meal; and two ounces of toasted bread and an apple in the evening. If all is going well after this, the patient may resume his ordinary diet, and, to prevent another attack, he should eat proper combinations.