Cholera

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. HOW TO PREVENT CHOLERA. The preceding chapters have heen written with the view of giving information to the public on the nature of cholera, under the conviction that it is only by an intelligent apprehension of the laws which govern the development of this disease on the part of the great bulk of the community, that we can ever hope to prevent its appearance or arrest its progress when it has appeared. It must, then, be very evident that there are two things, or sets of things, to be done: --1. To secure for ourselves and our neighbours such a state of bodily health that we may not be predisposed to take the disease. 2. To take all possible precautions against the introduction of the poison of cholera. With regard to the first object to be attained it has this advantage, that what is good against cholera is good against almost all other forms of disease. One of the most essential things to good 64 HOW TO PREVENT CHOLERA. by ventilating panes in the windows or-valves in the chimneys. All these arrangements should be made so as not to expose individuals to a draught of cold air. A draught is occasionally unavoidable for the purpose of ventilation, but the want of fresh air is the greater evil of the two. health is fresh air--air unadulterated with mr neral, vegetable, or animal impurities. It may not be possible for every one to obtain perfectly pure air, but every effort should be made to do so, and every one should reflect that ceteris paribus, the person who breathes the most fresh air will live the longest. All persons engaged in sedentary pursuits should strive to obtain fully two to three hours' exercise in the open air every day. Not only is the air beneficial, but the exercise also. The heart, the lungs, the muscles, .