DISEASES, ETC, 99 



ease was found, over a great extent of country, without ex- 

 cepting the Alleghany ridge, itself. Previous to this year, 

 pulmonary consumption was rarely seen, and epilepsy was a 

 rare disease in Ohio. These diseases are now as common as 

 in the Atlantic states. Dyspepsia has become a very common 

 disease, and doubtless, has been a sequel, to long continued in- 

 termitting and remitting fevers, by exhausting the powers of 

 the liver. 



In 1824 there were very few cases of intermittent or remittent 

 fever, nor has there since been a general epidemic. In 1827, 

 it was known, that while the river country was healthful, the 

 small streams had the inhabitants of their banks, affected with 

 dysentery. 



It might be profitable, to our citizens, to mark out the wide 

 difference between, what is, by common people called dysen- 

 tery, — and the true dysentery or flux. These diseases of dys- 

 entery and diarrhoea, are confounded with each other, as being 

 one and the same, whereas they are as opposite, in their na- 

 ture, and in their appropriate remedies, as any two diseases? 

 that affect the human body. The first, consisting of a continu- 

 ed stricture and constipation of the bowels, from first to last, 

 and requiring evacuants for their remedy, while the last con- 

 sists in a relaxation of the intestinal fibres, and requires astrin- 

 gents for its cure. Much mischief has occured from a want 

 of discrimination in these diseases. We find accordingly that 

 upon the approach of cold weather, a congestion and disten- 

 tion of the liver or spleen, take place, and frequently, a painful 

 affection of the joints, which is called rheumatism, arising from 

 the use of astringents in dysentery or flux. 



We have only further to add, that since the year of 1827, 

 the health of our state, has been unparalleled by that of any 

 other state in the Union, scarcely a case of fever to be seen 

 among the residents of Ohio. 



From 1827 to 1837, south of the summit level, between lake 

 Erie and the Ohio river, fevers have been very rare. The Asi- 

 atic cholera was in Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Columbus, and sev- 

 eral other towns in two summers, while that desolating scourge 



