1831.1 
Proceedings of Societies . 
127 
of the 13th, however, four cases of Cholera manifested themselves, and the nature 
of the disease being but little suspected, was not noticed by the unfortunate indivi- 
duals until the stage of collapse had intervened. From the 13th to the ISth of 
August, the disease continued to prevail on board the ship. The symptoms need 
not be dwelt on here, as they were those that usually are seen in this disease. The 
treatment consisted of the exhibition of hot brandy and water, with laudanum, 
venesection, and the exhibition of scruple doses of Calomel, &c. &c. In the state 
of collapse, sinapisms and blisters were applied to different parts of the body. 
The warm bath, with flannels, was also applied, when deemed necessary. Neither 
on the use of the warm bath, nor of venesection, does Mr. Hitchcock give a very 
favourable opinion. The-former seemed to increase the spasmodic affection, with a 
sense of suffocation ; and in no one single case was the heart’s action quickened or 
invigorated by the latter. 
With reference to the primary cause we have, observes Mr. Hitchcock, three of 
the most important parts of the body labouring under a loss of vital and nervous 
power — the heart oppressed by some invisible, unknown operation, and sinking 
beneath a load of dark carbonaceous blood — manifested by a labouring pulse, 
by a deficiency of animal heat, and by the colour of the blood transmitted. The 
brain, chemically as well as mechanically, suffering; in part from an important 
interruption to the change and transmission of the blood through the lungs, as 
well as from some serious impression made upon the organ itself, by the morbific 
agent ; which effects were most fully evinced by dilated pupil, giddiness, and 
stupor. And lastly, the lungs themselves appeared primarily affected, as was seen 
in the impediment offered to the free circulation of the air, occasioning a short and 
hurried respiration, a purple coloured lip, and, from the appearance of the blood 
itself, marking an imperfect decarbonisation. 
All these changes, he conceives, are produced by some extraordinary change in 
the principles ot the surrounding atmosphere ; or what is perhaps equally probable, 
from an inhalation of some kind ot malignant aeriform particles which have their 
rise in a chemical or electrical change in one part or other of the same. “Iam 
aware, Mr. Hitchcock proceeds, “that this opinion must be subjected to Objec- 
tions, because it is not demonstrated, and because it may be urged ; — why then 
should not all who breathe the same atmosphere, and so closely in contact with 
each other, universally suffer from the same ? To this, I would reply, that it is just 
as probable, that the specific agent now alluded to, may be formed, or be as sud- 
denly disengaged, as the electric spark that shoots from its original source to the 
nearest object of attraction or like miasmata producing ague, it may require a 
certain state of the system for a developement of its malignant effects. The latter 
of the two, I am inclined to think the most probable, although unable to trace, in 
the present instance, any signs of a predisposing cause. 
If the effective cause or causes, cannot be accounted for in this or a similar way 
how much less may be credited the opinion of those who have suspected its pre- 
sence in vapours arising from stagnant waters from rice, in a state of decompo- 
sition, as well as other vegetable matters ; — or have accounted for it in the sud- 
c en change of temperature, or even traced it to errors in diet ; when we, who have 
suffered almost beyond precedent, were far removed from the effluvia of either of 
the former and by no means the subjects of the latter to any extent. Again, this 
opinion (of the primary cause) may be opposed by inquiring, if the self-same agent 
is always necessary for the production of cholera, why its action should not be more 
regular and uniform ? Why in one appear under the dangerous and fatal form of 
congestion or collapse, and m another produce a contrary effect, by increasing the 
<ea , am accelerating the heart’s action ? Here I would refer to the general causes of 
ome orms of fever, where the same agent is producing in one a continued, and in 
o er, an intermittent type, according (as is supposed) to the predisposition of 
e su ject, or a concentration of morbific influence ; so also it may be in epidemic 
ioeia, and! doubt not is.’’ In a word, Mr. Hitchcock is inclined to think that 
io era, as it has been called, is a specific disease, and as such, is nowise liable to 
e produced by any common cause whatever ; and that its action is general upon 
, and occurs alike under all circumstances, and in every situation ; — no predisposing 
cause ieing at present assignable. The total number of deaths from cholera, on 
oarc the Abercrombie Robinson , was 24 — and of recoveries 14 — making in all 
•jo cases. ° 
Tth^l' e max * m,1 1 m distance to which Malaria can travel, has not yet been determined* 
even* r« ei1 l ,IX)m v that it can produce its morbid effects at a distance of three, and 
fin,!! o , 1,11 * es * I* 1 ' MacCulloeh is even of opinion, that the poison may be wafted 
he shores of Holland to those of Scotland by the East. wind. — Ed. Gov. Gaz. 
