THE FIRST CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN COLUMBUS, OHIO (1833)* By JONATHAN FORMAN, M.D.

COLUMBUS, OHIO

HE epidemic of Asiatic chol- always caused a rapid increase in the era which swept over our number of cases and facilitated the City one hundred years ago distribution along the accepted lines this summer, for its mortality of travel. While cholera has been and terror, surpassed any pestilenceindigenous to the Orient and has thatT ever afflicted Columbus before existed there, both as a separate and or since. epidemic affliction, for centuries, in Cholera, because of its sudden ap- the Western World it has made brief pearance, its high mortality, and the visitations solely as an epidemic. frightful appearance of its dead, has An epidemic began on the low wet always been a dramatic character country, embracing the outlets of in the history of the human race. the Ganges in Bengal in Midsummer, Those who die of this disease are a 1817. It spread over India and re- gruesome sight. It attacks the bowels curred each season. In 1826, it came and causes a stupendous loss of with great violence and spread slowly body fluids in the typical “rice-water along the lines of travel, reaching stools.” The whole body becomes Persia in 1829. There it went by way covered with dank moisture. Cheeks of Astrakhan to Russia, Sweden and become hollow, nose pinched, eyes Northern Europe. sunken, voice husky. Death’s rigor Cholera first appeared in Paris sets in quickly. Muscles literally be- about the 27th of March, 1832: come as hard as a board. Sometimes Its increase was most rapid, the deaths a stiffening corpse jerks about; it shortly amounting to hundreds a day; on may kick out a foot, wave an arm, the 9th of April, 861 by the printed report. flap its jaws or roll its eyes. Of such It was even said that many more died things is the natural terror of man for than were reported. By one account there this loathsome disease. were 20,000 deaths before the 23rd of Asiatic cholera has always been April. Probably this was an exaggeration. epidemic in certain parts of India The cholera also extended to Dublin and is probably indigenous in that and Cork in Ireland, about the middle country. The filthy habits of the of April. In London it had nearly natives, their poverty, their crowded disappeared at the end of April and conditions, and peculiar religious cus- so also in Scotland. The whole num- toms, are all aids in spreading the ber of cases reported in London was disease. The pilgrimages and great about 2,500, of whom rather more festivals of the Hindus and Moslems, than half had died. by bringing together enormous crowds The inhabitants of the Western under the worst of sanitary conditions, World were apprehensive about the * Read before The Columbus Society for the Study of Local Medical History at their March Meeting, 1933. A part of the expense of the preparation of this paper was defrayed by the Phi Rho Sigma Medical Fraternity. coming of cholera from Europe. The the churches there arose from time to medical authorities in Canada, under time the sound of prayer, the wail Dr. Skey, counseled the government of sorrow and the “Misere of Passion- to meet the pestilence. The Director- ate Entreaty.” General of this Medical Department, During the two months the epi- Sir James McGregor, issued an order demic lasted, 3851 of its victims died to his officers, early in 1832, and they in Quebec (population 30,000). The were prepared for an outbreak of the hospitals in Quebec were filled to disease. In February, 1832, at a meet- overflowing. Most of the patients, ing of the Councillors of the Massa- therefore, were left under canvas chusetts Medical Society, a committee tents. The doctors went night and of distinguished physicians was ap- day for two weeks without undressing pointed “to investigate the history or getting more than a wink of sleep of this disease and especially to snatched now and then. Montreal, a ascertain the best method of treating city of about the same size as Quebec, • ” It. suffered as badly, as did Kingston, The Canadians awaited with gloomy Toronto, and the upper Canadian forebodings the arrival of the first towns. ships in the spring. These forebodings were increased by a great deal of rain Spr ead of Cho lera in th e Unite d Stat es and generally unhealthy weather The fear of the Indian had hardly throughout the spring. subsided in Michigan when there On June 7th, the ship Voyageur came news of an enemy far more left quarantine at Grosse Island with terrifying and deadly than the Indians a clean bill of health, touched at ever were in American history—the Quebec en route, but carried the dread Asiatic cholera. One of the last Acts disease. The next day the ship Carrick of Legislative Council, approved June arrived at the port of Quebec from 29, 1832, was for the preservation of Dublin with 132 passengers, fifty-nine the public health in the city. Behind of whom had died of cholera during this fortification, Detroit waited for the passage. To make the whole the coming of the cholera. matter worse, there were 30,000 Irish President Andrew Jackson at this emigrants on their way to Canada. time had become impatient over the By the fifteenth the disease and the slow progress in the effort to terminate alarm had become general. Many Indian troubles on the western fron- persons fled from the cities to the tier. He ordered General Scott to take country. Quack remedies of all kinds the matter in hand and the second were advertised. Benevolent societies detachment of his command under were formed. Special services were Colonel Twiggs arrived from Buffalo held in all of the churches. The heat at Detroit on the fourth day of July, of the nights was sweltering and a 1832, as the people were celebrating sickly moonlight lay over all, adding the birth of the Nation, a celebration another evil presence to the doomed that was to be followed by panic and city. From morning until evening, the consternation. As the Henry Clay lay fearful procession of the dead, buried moored to the wharf, 2 cases of in almost precipitant haste, passed cholera developed among the troops through the silent streets, and from it carried, one of which proved fatal before night. The ship’s surgeon, During the summer of 1832, cholera terror-stricken, under the plea of came to New York City. Bellevue illness repaired to a hotel, while two Hospital admitted 2000 patients with Detroit physicians, Dr. Randall S. the disease of whom 600 died. Rice and Dr. John L. Whiting, went When the cholera was beginning to the succor of the afflicted. to make its appearance in New York, The Henry Clay, proceeding on her the brig Amelia sailed from New York way, was compelled to land other for New Orleans. On board this ship stricken soldiers at Fort Gratiot. The was a young physician, Warren Stone, Captain of the Henry Clay described who was leaving Troy, New York, to conditions aboard his ship as settle in New Orleans. Four passen- gers had actually been allowed to ... so violent and alarming that nothing come aboard suffering from Asiatic like discipline could be observed. Every- cholera. Dr. Stone had his hands full thing in the way of subordination ceased with 25 cases of the disease. The . . . as soon as the steamer came to Amelia was wrecked on Folly Island. the dock each man sprang on shore . . . some fled to the fields, some to the woods, The disease was promptly carried while others lay down in the streets and to the mainland by wreckers while under the cover of the river bank, where the passengers and crew were quaran- most of them died unwept and alone. tined on the Island. The authorities placed Dr. Thomas Hunt of Charles- Of the 850 men who left Buffalo in ton, South Carolina, in charge of the the early days of July not more than health affairs of the Island. Dr. Stone 200 were fit for the field and less than was his chief aid. When the crisis was two weeks later the remnant was over, Stone went to settle and practice landed at Fort Dearborn. in New Orleans. A few months later, The disease in Detroit soon spread Dr. Hunt established himself also in among the city people. Up to the New Orleans. Here the two young eighteenth of July, there were 58 cases men renewed their friendship and and 28 deaths; the upper story of the soon succeeded in getting five other Capitol building was used as a cholera physicians to associate themselves hospital. The epidemic continued un- with them in founding the Medical abated but was “confined largely College of Louisiana (1834). to the lower classes, swept off the Most of the towns and cities along intemperate and dissipated in large the Ohio River were visited by this numbers.” dreaded disease in May, June, and The garrison at Fort Gratiot under July; from Wheeling, Virginia, it Major Alexander Thompson was or- spread into Ohio and visited at St. dered to Chicago after the epidemic Blairsville, Mt. Pleasant, and other became general. No transport could Eastern Ohio towns. In October it be obtained so he determined to take was very bad in Cincinnati. the route by land. He marched from Thus wre have traced this epidemic Detroit to Chicago and then to Rock from Bengal on the Ganges over Asia Island. Here again the epidemic be- through Russia, across Europe to came violent and hundreds of brave Ireland, thence to Quebec; from lower men found an untimely grave on the Canada to upper Canada; with the banks of the Mississippi. soldiers of the Black Hawk War to Ft. Dearborn and Rock Island and so deservedly fall under condemnation. down the Mississippi; from New York It is surprising that persons of even down the coast to New Orleans, in ordinary intelligence should fail to • fact all over the United States except recognize the danger that was certain Central Ohio. But for some reason it to result from this double use of the did not enter Columbus until the freely permeable beds upon which following summer. This is all the more Columbus was built. The two funda- remarkable when one considers the mental principles later invoked by number of travelers which were enter- the development of sanitary science tained by the young capital of a state were: “First, city wells are incom- which was rapidly filling up with patible with public health and public settlers. safety and must everywhere be aban- doned; second, wastes must not be Columb us , Ohio , in 1832-3 allowed to be returned to the ground In order to present more clearly the because a filth-ridden soil becomes a picture of the first cholera epidemic prolific source of general and specific in Columbus it is necessary to sketch disease.” in a background of the biographical, In addition to the fine running civic, economic, social conditions of streams of water through the bor- the times. ough, there were numerous marshes, Columbus from its incorporation quagmires and ponds. The principal in 1816 until 1834 was a borough. It morass, with its outlying swales and boasted of “its excellent springs and ponds, embraced the present sites of fine running streams of water.” The the Fourth Street (Central) mar- ground, heavy, with no drainage ex- kethouse, Trinity Church, and St. cept that of the surface and the Joseph’s Cathedral, crossed the line imprisoned water, had the sponge- of Broad Street, and extended in a like quality of retaining much of the northeasterly direction to the neigh- water it received, and held more of borhood of Washington Avenue. So it in solution with decaying vegetable that near Broad and Grant was a matter. Columbus went on for many considerable dry land; east of it years with open ditches and no water was a quagmire. In this the village works or sewage system. Each house- cows, seduced by its marsh grass, hold derived its water supply from its were frequently mired. That part of own wells and all the forms of waste Broad Street which passed through were disposed of in vaults and cess- the swamp was easily cut by the pools sunk in the same lot on which wheels of traffic and in wet weather the well was located. The natural was nigh impossible. To overcome consequences of this system soon this, the street had been corduroyed began to manifest themselves in the about 1820, from the site of the more closely built sections of the cathedral eastward, by citizens work- borough. The water of certain wells ing out their road-tax. would become notably bad and their At Broad Street, also, near Cleve- owners would be compelled to aban- land Avenue was a spring somewhat don them, but other wells nearby larger than the others which had been would be called upon to render double piped to the State House to provide service thereby, until they too would its water supply. Numerous springs near Spring Street Following the real estate boom formed a brook of clear water known naturally attendant upon the opening as Doe Run. To this rivulet were of the new capital and the laying out two or three other branches extend- of the borough by its proportions in ing through the ground now occupied 1816, there came a reaction with a by the railroads. Another, which had period of great depression lasting its origin in a copious spring near from 1820 to 1825. The price of real the present church of St. Patrick, estate greatly depreciated and busi- coursed southwesterly to a point ness of all kinds was almost at a near Fourth Street, between Spring standstill, but after the crisis was and Long Streets, then, by a sudden passed in 1825, business revived, bend, changed its direction to Spring immigrants sought permanent homes Street. Meandering through a wide in the new capital; new buildings and treacherous bog, usually called were erected, some of them large and “Cattail Swamp,” Doe Run was expensive, trade began to flourish, and confluent on Spring Street with Lizard real estate began to boom. Creek, the waters of which were In the fall of 1831, the canal had gathered from the springs of Broad been opened connecting Columbus Street morass and descended Third with Cleveland, New York and the Street from a point near the Cathe- Eastern market. For thirty years the dral, after been joined by Doe Run. canals were the great controlling fac- Lizard Creek crossed High Street at tor of increasing commerce, manu- Spring by a fifteen foot depression factures, and population. Certainly rushed down a gulley twenty-five Cleveland and Columbus are deeply feet deep to the Scioto River. Of all obligated to the Ohio Canal as a de- of the bogs of the borough Cattail termining influence. The newly formed Swamp was the most treacherous markets added 50 per cent to their and dangerous. prices. In one year 300,000 bushels of On East Broad Street, near Twen- wheat were sold in Columbus for tieth, lay Crookedwood Pond. A prac- cash and 100,000 barrels of beef and tical road was finally run through pork were put up for shipment east. this slough by rolling logs into it. As soon as the canal began to carry Where the central market now out wheat it advanced from twenty- stands was a pond. The brooks which five cents to seventy-five cents and descended Fourth and Main Streets within a short time to one dollar poured indirectly into Peter’s Run and one dollar and twenty-five cents and turned the wheels of Conger’s per bushel. At the opening of the flouring mill which stood in the ravine Ohio Canal the following rates were back of what is now the old Hoster announced to New York via Cleve- Brewery. The grounds of the Institu- land, the Welland Canal and Oswego: tion for the Deaf were originally “Flour, per barrel, Columbus to swampy and overgrown with bushes of Cleveland, sixty-seven cents includ- the wild blackberry. Duke’s pond, a ing storage; from Cleveland to New favorite skating place in winter, was York, one dollar and ten cents. Pork at the junction of Third and Broad and other staples are canned at a Streets, where now stands Trinity proportionate rate for both weight Church. and distance.” On westbound freight, dry goods, etc., the rate was one From Zanesville to Columbus, fifty- dollar and eighty-eight and one-half eight miles, we saw’ the wilderness in all cents per hundred pounds. gloominess and enjoyed self-constructed In 1831, the town consisted of 350 roads in all their terror. We felt as if dwellings, fifteen general stores, four carried back to the times of the early settlers. Our vehicle, which in the dialect printing offices, one bank, a market of the country was called a spanker, house, four churches—(Presbyterian, was intended for four persons, and on this Methodist, Lutheran and Episcopal- occasion was drawm by four strong horses ian), five clergymen, ten lawyers, five at the rate of twro miles per hour. What, regular physicians and a total popula- with the happy recollections of the preced- tion of 2434. Such was the capital ing day, the fearful anticipations of the of this state when the opening of the future, the wintry wind driving through canal brought it into direct commer- an open stage, the warnings of driver cial connection with the East and to be prepared for any and every hazard, imparted a fresh stimulus to its the confessions of a timid fellow traveler, development. Consequently, several of horses frightened by the howling of new additions to the town were laid the wolves, of stages overturned, of bones dislocated, and lives in jeopardy, all of out and sold and so many new families which he had heard of and much of which arrived that a portion of these were he had seen; what with travelling the obliged to go away for the want of livelong night and arriving in Columbus houses in which to live. just before daybreak, and there finding In 1833 over seventy coaches, all four of the hotels at which we applied crowded, arrived at Columbus each not only full but crowded, as admittance week. Along with this flush of busi- for repose was out of the question; con- ness, due in part to the building of sidering these facts, as well as the simple the National Road and its tributary incidents that one of our company was turnpikes, may be noted also a marked ever shrinking with fear, another had quickening of speed. In 1833 the mail stupefied his senses with strong drink, from Washington City came to Wheel- and another was so much given to pro- fanity as to succeed every harsh move- ing in fifty-five hours and from Wheel- ment of the spanker with a tremendous ing to Columbus in twenty-four hours. oath, and I think one may receiv full The mail time between Cincinnati pardon for uttering the “groans of a and Wheeling via Columbus was traveller.” forty-eight hours. Between Cleveland and Columbus via Mt. Vernon and In the spring of 1833, one half a Wooster the time was twenty-six hours. mile east of town, workmen were busy It must be remembered, however, building the new school for the deaf. that travel and transportation at this On the east bank of the Scioto, one time in and around Columbus was half mile north of the city, the con- not to be taken lightly. When it tractor with convict labor was busy rained High Street was a mud-hole. erecting the Ohio Penitentiary on its Mr. Isaac Appleton Jewett, the son present site. Although the new peni- of Dr. Moses Jewett, described his tentiary was being built north of return from New England to Ohio town the convicts were still housed in December, 1830, a condition which in the old prison. obtained for the most part until 1836 This institution was a brick building or later, as follows: on Scioto Street, 60 by 80 feet on the ground and three stories high. The the summer of 1833 held in store basement was used for cooking and for them. In the Columbus Sentinel eating. The first floor was the keeper’s for May 16, 1833, Mr. Summer residence. The third story was divided Clark advertises under the heading into four dark and nine light cells. “anti-cholera”: The prison yard was ioo feet square including the ground that the building CHLORIDE OF LIME AND CHLORIDE OF SODA stood on, and was enclosed by a The subscriber has just received and stone wall from 15 to 18 feet high. In offers for sale 500 pounds of the Chloride 1818 an additional brick building was of lime and 100 bottles of the Chloride built and the yard was enlarged to a of soda. Directions accompanying each. total area of 160 by 400 feet. There Bottle of the Chloride of soda “To prevent infection from cholera morbus, small- were now fifty-four cells and five pox, yellow fever, typhus fever, to purify dark dungeons. W. W. Gault was the the apartment of the sick etc. . . . keeper at this time. sprinkle the floor . . . solution one part The winter of 1832-33 was un- of the chloride to sixty parts of water. usually mild in central Ohio. On ... To disinfect sewers, cesspools, privies February 22, 1833, Mr. Isaac A. —dilute with 40 parts of water to 1 of Jewett wrote: chloride. The winter still continues open and There is another advertisement delightful. What a contrast to the two which shows with what apprehension preceding! Never were there clearer skies the citizens of Columbus awaited nor milder breezes. The month of Febru- the coming of the summer and the ary has been one long May day. I will dread cholera. During the late spring not say the birds have made their and early summer N. L. Whiting, the appearance but I have certainly seen the bookseller, caused to be inserted in grass green in the fields. all of the local papers a list of nearly Nevertheless March opened with a a dozen medical books which he had slight snowfall, which was closely placed in his stock. These items followed by some of the coldest included the report of the Massa- weather of the season. During this chusetts Committee and the other cold interval, four inches of snow lay recent works on epidemic cholera. upon the ground, making excellent No better illustration of the feeling sleighing. April and the first half of on this matter exists than a letter May were commonly dry but June to the Editor of the Columbus Sentinel was a month of copious and constant which was printed in the issue of precipitation causing high water, and Thursday, June 6, 1833, signed “pre- making the roads for a time almost vention.” The letter follows: impassable. Mr. Editor: Last summer, the alarm The news that came into Columbus which the cholera, everywhere in the during the summer of 1832 and the west, occasioned, induced the police following winter about the ravages of authorities of towns to take measures cholera in the northern part of the to guard against its attacks and mitigate State and along the Ohio River, its severity in the event of its being taken. coming along the National Road as This was highly commendable, receiving far as St. Clairsville, made everyone the approbation of all. Here, the Town in Columbus apprehensive as to what Council and their good Marshall acted with becoming spirit. Our streets and at the disposal of this Board by the other places were cleaned, and we were Borough Council, which also ap- mercifully spared. Now when the same pointed a committee of three of dreadful malady is making its ravages its members to procure a suitable at no great distance from us, not one place for a hospital if needed. That precautionary step is taken. We actually it would be needed, and that badly, seem to invite the enemy—to challenge him to combat. Is it wise to neglect the soon became evident enough. great, indeed, paramount duty of our Meanwhile the street committee safety? For one, I say, no. Can we rely was directed to drain the ponds, fill with confidence upon the remedies which up the holes containing water, and some may presumptuously pronounce have the vile street culverts cleaned. infallible! For one, I say no. Should the One manifest effect of the cholera, destroyer come, which is fearfully proba- if no other, was to stir the easy-going ble, we may witness scenes of suffering villagers to open their choked-up and mortality appalling to the stoutest gutters and culverts, drain their stag- heart. nant pools, and remove the rotting What is become of the board of health? garbage heaps which gorged their Has their authority expired with the neglected alleys. apprehension of danger? Cannot they, as As the summer came on the local men, invoke the authorities to act? papers were filled with reports of The filthy condition of Columbus in cholera in other places and lists of 1833 was a subject of many such prominent citizens throughout the remarks. So it must have been factors country who had been carried off by outside of the city which determined it were published in every issue. For that cholera should be slow in making instance in the Columbus Sentinel for its appearance. The streets abounded June 13, 1833, we read: in “chuckholes”; ponds of stagnant The first cholera news for the year water stood on the commons, primi- began to appear: from the Zanesville tive swamps remained yet undrained, Gazette, Wheeling W. Va. from the 16th ashes, shavings and trash of all kinds of May until the 4th of June had 142 were tossed promiscuously into the cases with 72 deaths: . . . Bridgeport first alley or other convenient space, had 30 cases with 18 deaths. pigs and “other foul creatures” were permitted to roam at will, and the Again in the same newspaper in the carcasses of the dead animals were issue of June 20 we find the following left rotting in the sun. To correct editorial: these evils and to prepare for the Still have we to regret that the fatal coming of Asiatic cholera, a Board of and mysterious scourge is the subject Health was appointed June 7, 1833 which absorbs the attention, and engrosses of which the following prominent and alarms the minds of all, and still citizens were members: Drs. Peley while we enjoy the blessing of being able Sisson, M. B. Wright, Hon. J. Camp- to record the continued health of our bell, Joel Buttles, John Patterson, town, it is our painful duty to state, that William Munick, Alfred Kelley, P. elsewhere the pestilence appears to be B. Wilcox, R. Brotherton, Christian on the increase. Heyl, George Jeffries and John Noble. In this issue of June 27 we read that The sum of fifty dollars was placed “Drs. Leavel and Moberly of Wil- mington, Ohio, went to Lexington to that, the treatment of billiary diseases witness the effect of the disease.” generally restores the patient speedily There follows an abstract of their to health. In speaking of the use of report from the Wilmington Democrat ipecac and salt I have omitted to observe and Herald. It is to be remembered that, in the general, they only cleanse that Lexington, Kentucky, was still a the stomach, check the dysentery and cure the spasm, without inciting, in the great medical center. These Ohio general, the least degree of billiary physicians had really traveled to this secretion. center to learn from the great pro- fessors Dudley and Short how to treat Extract from the letter of Thomas the cholera. S. Moberly: This same issue of the Sentinel The most successful practice in my contains long lists of persons living opinion is the following: In the incipient along the Ohio River who had re- stages of the disease which are usually cently died of the cholera. indicated by nausea at the stomach and An extract from the letter of H. diarrhea, go to bed, keep warm and Leavel appears as follows: take ipecac and calomel combined in the usual quantities. Repeat it every two In every case whether fully developed or three hours until free billious evacua- or not, Professors Dudley and Short tions are produced. If vomiting and give ipecac in teaspoonful doses every spasms ensue, puke the patient with ten minutes until free vomiting takes teaspoonful doses of ipecac followed by place and then they give large quantities large draughts of salt and water which of salt and warm water until they vomit must be continued until the spasms are six or eight times or until the extremities relieved and the surface becomes warm become warm and profuse perspiration and moist, when calomel should be given is produced. During this time rubbing in large doses, repeated every two or the extremities either with the hand three hours until free billious evacuations or with pepper or mustard is also resorted are produced. If the calomel is puked to for the purpose of aiding the afore- up continue it with laudanum or opium. mentioned remedies to produce an equilib- The same quantity of pulverized mustard rium in the circulation. After vomiting will answer as a substitute for ipecac. ceases the stomach is tranquilized and All vegetable diet should be avoided. perspiration is kept up by warm clothing. Calomel in io, 15, 20, 30 or 40 grain In spite of the fact that many doses is then administered every two or people were constantly coming into three hours until dark and consistent Columbus from infected towns by evacuations are established. If calomel stage coach and canal boat, it was not is disposed to pass off and produce thin, until the second week in July, 1833 watery evacuations, laudanum is given that cholera made its appearance in to retain it on the stomach to produce Columbus, although for some weeks its specific effect: dark billious evacua- before it had raged along the canal in tions. After these objects are effected, Madison township. the pulse of the patient becomes slow Bareis tells this story of the first and full and gentle moisture of the whole attack of cholera in Franklin County surface is maintained by keeping on large quantities of bed clothing. at what is now Groveport: I have now given you a succinct In the latter part of June 1833, a man account of the treatment up to the traveling by canal boat from Cleveland, establishment of healthy secretion; after stopped off at the road crossing the canal about a mile and one-half west of Canal was attacked on Sunday morning soon Winchester, and went to the residence after he had eaten his breakfast, and of a Mr. Woodstock who lived nearby died six or eight hours later. Mrs. at the toll-gate on the Columbus and McHenry was taken ill about ten Winchester Pike and at his request o’clock on Monday morning and ex- Mrs. Woodstock did some washing for pired in the evening of the following him, and it is supposed that the clothes were infected with cholera. Mr. Wood- day. “There is no cause for alarm,” stock went to Georges’ creek to fish soothingly remarked the State Journal while his wife did the washing; soon but many people took the alarm, afterwards he returned and drank freely nevertheless, and fled to Delaware, of buttermilk. In a very short time Mount Vernon, and other neighboring afterwards he took violently sick, his towns, where several of the fugitives family and near neighbors thinking from were very soon afterwards attacked, the effect of the buttermilk. At that some of them fatally. The patients time this was one of the most thickly were treated mainly with calomel, the settled neighborhoods in the township, stock preparation of that period, and and of course everybody was always those who convalesced usually suf- ready to lend a helping hand when they fered from its effects for a long time had to depend on each other. It was not long until nearly the whole neighborhood afterwards. had gathered to lend what assistance In many instances, death came they might, none dreaming of the dread quickly before much could be done pestilence so soon to enter their homes. for the afflicted. One case is well Mr. Woodstock soon died and only a authenticated and has been verified few hours afterwards his wife died also. by Dr. Dickson L. Moore, in his talks Dr. Wiley expressed the opinion that with the old residents who were they had died of cholera. Nearly all living when he first began to practice present thought it precautionary to leave in Columbus. The case is that of Miss at once, and suited their action to their Howard, a beautiful girl about twenty feelings. But it was too late. Within years of age, the daughter of a Dr. the next few weeks some thirty or more Howard. She was engaged to marry Dr. persons died in this neighborhood alone. Nearly all died in a few hours after being M. B. Wright. At noon of one summer attacked. day in this memorable year, Miss Howard was in her usual health, and The disease in Madison township met her friends and talked to them at was confined to a small area but “the pump” which was a place for proved very fatal. common meeting and the drawing of The first case was that of a Negro fresh water on South High Street woman dwelling in a cabin on the near Main. At two o’clock in the east side of Front Street, about 80 afternoon she was seized with the feet south of Broad Street. Next a cholera and at four o’clock that same white woman was seized in a stone day she was dead. Before evening had house which stood on the northwest come her friends had laid her away corner of Town and Fourth Streets. in the old North burying ground, near The first pestilence is said to have where the North Market-house stands. appeared on July 12, 1833. At dinner that day she had waited During the week, ending July 20, upon Edwin M. Stanton, who was two fatal cases occurred. Josiah Stagg then a young student of law. When he returned for supper and heard the 3 news of her death, he was so shocked Pulv. Camphor that he refused to believe it, and Ag. Ammoniae 01. Oliv summoning a few comrades and fellow 01. Terebinth students, they repaired to the grave- Meanwhile the patient should take a yard, where they actually dug up the full draught for once or twice of warm body of the unfortunate girl in order water, or gruel, or camomile tea, unless to verify the awful truth of her sudden he spontaneously clears his stomach death. of all food by vomiting. If there be great sinking and coldness, the mustard emetic Treat ment may be tried. But as soon as the stomach is cleared, or sooner if the pain or distress The treatment of Asiatic cholera at the stomach be urgent, he should as practiced by our profession one take a hundred drops of the tincture of hundred years ago can best be set opium (laudanum) in some hot water forth by copying from the report of with tincture (essence) of peppermint. the Massachusetts Committee: So much may be done without waiting for medical aid. But in all cases it is We proceed to point out more dis- proper that aid should be obtained as tinctly the exact method to be pursued, speedily as possible. and to state the value of the different As soon as the state of the stomach remedies so far as we are able to estimate offers any chance of its being retained, them, in the different forms and cir- a full dose of the submuriate of mercury cumstances of the disease. In thus doing (calomel) should be given in powder. we shall point out the course which is If rejected, this should be repeated sanctioned by experience. But we shall immediately, and so until one dose is not think it necessary to discuss every retained. One scruple may be regarded remedy which has been proposed and as the full dose. After this, half of the urged upon the public. dose may be given once in two to four At the first seizure the patient should hours. Meanwhile the tincture of opium be placed in bed, and subjected to strong should be repeated at least once in an friction, while remedies are prepared. hour, and oftener when there is great Articles should be employed to communi- distress, till the patient manifests the cate heat to the surface and it is better influence of the opiate by relief, or by that these should be dry than moist. Bags its narcotic effects. The opium may be containing hot sand, ashes, salt, meal or combined with camphor and with pepper- any convenient articles at hand, should mint, or any other grateful aromatic. be applied to the limbs and to the sides Likewise, from time to time, hot brandy of the body. Bottles of hot water may and water, or other stimulants, may be be employed in the same way, especially given until the warmth is restored. at the feet. Mustard poultices should In every severe case at first and in be applied to the pit of the stomach, every case where relief has not been and extended over the abdomen. They obtained within two hours, blood-letting may also be put on the feet, and any should be practiced. This should be other part which is peculiarly cold, or employed the sooner if the pulses are painful. A stimulating liniment may be failing; for there is a risk that no blood used for rubbing the surface, as soon as can be procured, should delay be allowed. it can be procured. This may be pre- It is important that the patient be kept pared as follows, or varied in the propor- in the horizontal position during the tions according to circumstances. operation, and that the orifice in the vein be large. The bleeding should be copious; ach. Enemata may be employed in aid that is, it should be continued till the of these purgatives. On this point it pulse becomes more full or more strong, should be borne in mind that much may or both; or till the patient experiences be gained by injecting a large quantity unequivocal relief. For this purpose, of any mild liquid into the rectum, twenty, thirty and forty ounces of blood to the amount of from two to four pints. have often been taken with advantage; For this purpose Maw’s syringe will be although eight, ten, or twelve, have often found exceedingly well adapted. sufficed. When the bowels have been effectually If subsequent to this there be great cleared, the subsequent treatment should tenderness, with some internal heat in be of the most simple kind. The patient the abdomen, leeches may perhaps be should be kept at rest and tranquil; his applied with advantage. The repetition diet should be light and in small quanti- of the general bleeding will not probably ties; pain, or irritation, or watchfulness be found expedient, or useful, except in should be relieved by opiates; and the very rare cases. bowels should be moderately evacuated The mere failure in the pulse should daily, till his convalescence is established. never deter from venesection. But when With patients, who are relieved suddenly to this are added other symptoms of by early treatment, great care will be debility, after the spontaneous evacua- requisite, lest by indulgence in food, or tions have occasioned great exhaustion premature exertions a relapse be induced. and when the surface is covered with a When debility remains and is protracted clammy sweat, there can scarcely arise after the disease subsides, tonics should any benefit from the practice, and evil be employed. By their aid the liability is said to have followed it. to indigestion will be diminished and the Of the use of the mustard emetic general susceptibility of morbid impres- in the state of collapse mention has sions will be counteracted, or lessened. been made already. It may be worthy The same discretion is requisite in the use of a trial; but probably the experience of them, as in other cases. Likewise it in Great Britain will soon decide on its is necessary to distinguish between the merits. advantages of tonics and those stimulants If the course pointed out can be and cordials. Any excess in the use of these successfully pursued, the patient will must be baneful. be restored to a more natural state of A few observations may be useful feeling, his warmth will be regained, the in respect to remedies, which should be suffering at the precordia will be dimin- avoided, or used with caution, while ished, the vomiting and purging will they are such as would very naturally cease and he will probably fall into a be suggested. sleep which will gradually become tran- The first of these is the warm bath. quil. In this he should be left undisturbed When we see the patient shivering with for a while. But many hours should cold, the skin livid, and the suffering not be allowed to pass before some with cramps in the limbs, it would laxative should be administered; and seem that the warm bath was peculiarly this should be repeated from time to calculated to afford him relief. Yet most time until free ejections have been of those who have tried it, assure obtained of a dark, or of a yellow color. us that its effects are often rather Castor oil is well adapted for this pur- injurious; and that the benefits, if any, pose, combined with other articles accord- are less than those which may be attained ing to circumstances. The simpler com- in the same time by other means. The pound infusion of senna may be used, first impression from the warm bath is where the oil is not retained on the stom- not always grateful to the patient. He sometimes complains of the heat, which over from Germany and American persons in health support with ease and physicians became interested in the find agreeable. Sometimes the patient subject and began to practice its has been greatly distressed on immersion, tenets. There were no homeopathic so that his immediate removal has medical schools until Dr. Constantine become necessary. But when present Herring started one in Allentown, comfort is obtained from the bath and his heat restored by it, he is frequently Pennsylvania in, 1835. Dr. Gramm chilled immediately on removal, and introduced the practice of homeop- friction will not restore him sooner than athy into New York in 1825. On the if the bath had not been employed. other hand homeopathy was intro- Meanwhile, much time has been occupied, duced into Detroit by regular physi- and the patient, in greatly depressed state cians who took up its practice. Among of his strength, has been exhausted by the the first of these were Dr. S. S. Hall fatigue to which he is necessarily subjected. and Dr. P. M. Wheaton. So while The same objections do not apply to cholera was at its height in Columbus a hot air or vapor bath, or not so fully. there appeared a paid announcement This may sometimes be found useful as in the Sentinel for July 25, 1833, which an auxiliary remedy. The best mode reads as follows: of using it perhaps is to introduce the vapor of burning alcohol under the bed- CURE OF THE CHOLERA clothes, as may be done by the apparatus of Mr. Jennings, long known in this Some cases of Cholera having taken country. But even in regard to this mode place in this town, which have terminated of bathing, we do not find very favorable fatally, as a Homeopathic Physician, I reports from many persons who have feel myself in duty bound towards tried it. the public to give them, hereby, notice Generally it has been found that that I am confident of being able to cure neutral salts do not operate favorably that dreadful disease by means of the in the spasmodic cholera. The more Homeopathic System which during the last stimulant cathartics alone, or combined ten years has gained so many adherents with castor oil, are to be preferred; the in Germany, and which in regard to the submuriate of mercury having first been Cholera, especially, has proved its strongly recommended. superiority. Sub-carbonate of Magnesia has been Public documents brought over by strongly recommended by Dr. Ainslie, a me testify to the efficiency of the afore- physician of respectability and who has said remedy; and that I myself have had experience in India, but it does not cured the Cholera by this system, so appear that others, in trying this article, beneficial to mankind. have derived from it the same benefits Application to be made to as Dr. Ainslie believed himself to do. Leopold Lehman Yet, there may be found occasions when Corner of Front and State Streets. it may be usefully employed. It would Columbus July 24, 1833. be best perhaps to add rhubarb and Drs. Platt, Howard and Curtis were combined with aromatics, such as mint the outstanding “steam doctors” of or ginger. In cases somewhat analogous to Columbus, Curtis had come from cholera, this combination has been ad- Virginia to edit the Thomsonian Re- ministered with great advantage. corder. He carried on a bitter war During the late 20’s and early 30’s, with both the allopathic physician persons trained in homeopathy came and the “reform doctors.” The cholera epidemic of 1833 was the beginning attacked with choleraic symptoms of this cult in our City. Dr. Howard, revived. who had claimed to possess a treat- In the Ohio Penitentiary, still lo- ment which was absolutely specific cated on the old prison lot of 10 against the disease, had himself died acres in the southwestern part of the of it. Not only had he died, but his town facing the Scioto River, were wife, one daughter, a son-in-law and housed 303 convicts. Many of these two grandchildren. This fact, together were employed in building the new with the second report by the lay prison north of town (its present site). members of the board of health, The contracts called for a minimum destroyed the public’s faith in this of 65 men. The men became sick and type of healing. all were taken off the job. Wild There were also a few “reform rumors spread through the town that doctors” in practice in Columbus at all or nearly all had died. There were this time while in the next village actually 100 convicts who were ill or north of the city they operated a who claimed illness; of these, it was thriving medical school. They pro- agreed that thirty-five were well- tested against the uniform custom of defined cases of cholera. Eleven deaths bleeding. They, like the Thomson- were officially attributed to cholera in ians, believed in heat, maintaining, the prison. By the tenth of August the with much sagacity, that “heat was Penitentiary was entirely free of the life and cold was death.” For the one pestilence. Shortly afterwards 100 point of the lancet they substituted a prisoners were put back on the job dozen and wet-cupped their patients of building the new prison. Rumors, instead of bleeding them. They used however, still floated about the State much boneset tea and lobelia and gave as to the dreadful conditions in the drenching sweats to get rid of the cal- Penitentiary. Hence in the mortuary omel which had been deposited in their reports the State Journal of September patients’ bones by the allopathist. 14 makes the cheerful observation As the disease progressed we find that the convicts continued to be the newspapers of the day full of entirely exempt from the Cholera. “A advice to their readers. For instance large detachment of them,” continues we found a quotation from the Cin- the paper, “are employed daily on cinnati Republican in the Sentinel of the new edifice, and a healthier set August 15: of men we have never seen. We under- stand that they are fed exclusively The use of ice is recommended. The on bread and salt meat, but whether prudent and judicious use of ice, iced this is the sole cause of their exemp- drinks and iced creams. tion we are unable to say.” Malt Liquors. Experience has shown Finally the disease ran its course. that malt liquors do not resist an attack The Columbus Sentinel of Thursday, of children. I have not met with a single fact in the city that was against the use of September 26, announced: malt liquors. Daniel Drake. We have at length the satisfaction to state, Columbus is free from cholera! From this time on until the end The last case occurred on Saturday—that of September fatal cases were re- of Mr. S. Snydam which proved fatal; ported daily. Many persons, however, and it was a solitary one, there having been none for several preceding days. J. L. Turner, W. T. Martin, Jr.; 13. The health of the town is now excellent, Mrs. Blackman, Mrs. Jett; 14. Mr. Comp- and we hope soon to see business revived ston, Mr. Schodinger; 18. child of Mrs. in all its former activity. Tiller, Mrs. Claim; 21. S. Snydam; 28. Mrs. Sweet, 29. E. Stewart. On October 12, the State Journal made this reassuring announcement: These names are exclusive of six “We have the satisfaction to state colored persons, eleven convicts at that no case of cholera has occurred the State Penitentiary, and eight in this town since our last publication, other fatal cases occurring within to our knowledge. Columbus may three miles of the town, making in all now be considered entirely free from 100 deaths officially attributed to disease, and as healthy as in the most Asiatic cholera. favorable seasons.” The final report This report was published in the of the Board of Health, published local papers and signed by all the November 2, gave the following list members of the Board of Health, viz.: of deaths by cholera in the town of P. Sisson, m.d ., S. Parsons, m.d ., Columbus, from July 14 to September M. B. Wright, m.d ., Joel Buttles, 29, inclusive (the figures indicate the John Patterson, William Mum, Alfred date of deceased): Kelly, P. B. Wilcox, R. Brotherton, C. Heyl, George Jefferies, John Noble. July 14. Josiah Stagg; 17. Margaret Because of sympathy with the McHenry, Sophie Brickie; 23. M. Big- allopathic school of medicine many wood, Mrs. West, Mrs. Mills; 25. two who have written of this epidemic in children of Mrs. Hiesler, M. Worley; 26. Columbus have carried along the J. Woods, Mrs. Woods; 27. William statement that most of the “steam- Johns; 29. Henry Jewett. doctors” of that day quitted the August: 4, child of H. D. Little; town. This is evidently not true be- 5. Mrs. Wise; 6. second child of Mr. cause the lay members of the local Little; 7. Mrs. Tobin, Mr. Morningstar; 9. Ann Howard; 10. Joseph Bishoe; board of health issued a separate 12. son of N. Rochester, son of B. Henley, report calling attention to the harm B. Henly, Mr. Maynard; 14. 3. Widle, these men had done. This second or C. Otstot, E. Flagg, N. Rochester 15. lay report appeared in the local news- H. Howard; 16. child of Mr. Logue; papers of the week of November 9, 17. Mrs. Cuss; 18 Mr. Winkelpleck; 19. 1833. It follows:* child of Mrs. Carr, Henry Combs, 21. child of Mr. Logue, H. Howard, Mrs. Van- FINAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH atta; 22. William Waters; 25. J. S. Whyte, The undersigners, members of the Mrs. Skater; 26. C. Lorwig, B. Switzer, Board of Health of the town of Columbus, Mr. Smarts; 28. Mr. Storrs, William being now happily released from the Sterritt; 30. Mr. Rammelsburg, Mrs. further performance of the duties of Wood, Isac Wood, Thomas Wood. our appointment by the restoration of September: 3. daughter of Jarvis Pike; general health, deem it a duty which we 4. Ephraim Sells, C. C. Beard; 5. Mrs. owe to the public to submit in this final Beard, Mrs. Eswine, child of C. C. report a few general remarks in relation Beard; 6. P. Sweet; 8. Mrs. Britton, to the alarming disease which has re- Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Harding; 9. Mrs. cently afflicted our town. Walker, child of Mr. Schoedinger; 11. * Columbus Sentinel, 3: No. 35 (Nov. 9) Mrs. Bancroft; 12. child of Mr. Sweet, 1833- The first case of cholera occurred to the fact, that in the Penitentiary among us on the 14th day of July and where strict rules in regard to diet were the last on the 29th of September. enforced and when the use of the heating Between these dates, the total number remedies as a measure of prevention wTho fell victims to this disease within were prohibited, a very large proportion the limits of the town was 92 of which 11 of those attacked with cholera were were among the prisoners confined in cured, the disease was in a short time the Penitentiary. The total number of expelled and the convicts subsequently inhabitants in this town at the time enjoyed good health. cholera appeared among us is supposed It is also true that few among the to have been about 3,500 of whom nearly temperate and regular livers who avoided one fourth part removed temporarily the use of heating medicines recommended from the town during the prevalence as precautions were attended either with of the disease. cholera or any other serious disease. It is worthy of remark, that the cholera As some of the members of the Board continued in this place considerably of Health have been called upon by longer than it has usually done in towns persons at a distance for information similarly situated and comparing with as to the success of the Thomsonian it as to population. We have reason to or steam practice in the treatment of believe that this may be attributed cholera, we conceive it to be a duty which mainly to imprudent exposure: to improp- we owe to mankind thus publicly to er living, both in regard to quality and state as the result of experience in the quantity of food, and especially to the place and of our own observation, that free use of highly stimulating medicine, no reliance can be placed on that system recomended and taken under the mis- of practice, either for the prevention taken belief, that they were antidotes or cure of this formidable disease. against attacks of the cholera. Indiscreet In the early part of the time, during indulgences in the use of fruit and of which the cholera prevailed among us, crude unripe watery vegetables, are many of our citizens placed much reliance ascertained to have preceded in almost on the Thomsonian remedies. This con- every instance, the attacks of cholera, fidence led them to disregard the precau- and are believed to have had a direct tions so generally recommended and and powerful agency in provoking the deemed of so much importance, in the disease. We are also fully satisfied that prevention of cholera by regular physi- excess in celery and drinking was a cians. In several instances, the premoni- prolific source of cholera and especially tory symptoms were temporarily checked fever. by the use of the Thomsonian remedy. Of those who made use of the Cholera This operated to increase the mistaken syrup (a heating medicine recommended and fatal confidence which reposed in by a certain class of practioners as a these remedies, and in our opinion con- specific for the prevention of Cholera) tributed greatly to increase the number a far greater portion were attacked and violence of the cases, and to prolong with the disease than of any equal the continuance of the disease among number of persons who did not make use us. These remedies only checked or of it, and of those who were attacked disguised the symptoms. They did not after using this medicine in any con- remove the cause of the disease. And when siderable quantities, very few recovered. like a smothered fire it broke forth with We have no doubt that a free use of this increased violence, fully developed, the heating medicine was the immediate cause remedies of that system were found in of obstinate fevers. almost every instance to be utterly In support of these opinions, we refer powerless. During the latter part of the time that lowed by the development of the the disease prevailed here, very few railway. persons could be found who were willing to trust their lives or those of their friends Ref ere nces in the hands of the Thomsonian practi- 1. Abb ott , M. E. History of Medicine in tioners; and the extraordinary mortality the Province of Quebec. Toronto, which occurred in the families of those 1931, 94 pp. who practiced on the Thomsonian plan 2. Bar eis , G. F. A History of Madison and among those who placed such entire Township Including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, reliance on their skill, sweeping off in Ohio. Canal Winchester, 1902, 515 pp. several instances nearly whole families, 3. Bur r , C. B., et al. Medical History of affords melancholy but strong evidence Michigan. Minneapolis, 1930, 2 vols. of the inefficiency and worthlessness 4. Char lton , M. Outlines of the history of remedies in which such entire and of medicine in Lower Canada. Parts fatal confidence had been placed. hi , iv. Ann . Med . Hist ., 6: 222-312, We are neither of us physicians, and 1924. in making these remarks, we disclaim 5. Committee under the direction of the all personal interest and feelings, as well Counsellors of the Massachusetts Med- as personal hostility towards those who ical Society. A Report on Spasmodic Cholera. Boston, 1832, 190 pp. practice on the Thomsonian system. 6. LIowe , H. Historical Collections of Ohio. P. B. Wilcox Cincinnati, 1902, 2 vols. Alfred Kelly 7. Lee , A. E. History of the City of Colum- J. Patterson bus. N. Y. and Chicago, 1892, 2 vols. Wm. Miner 8. Loving , S. Some reminiscences—general C. Heyl and medical. Proc. Old Northwestern J. Buttles Genealogical Soc., 7: 221, 1904. J. Noble. 9. Mart in , W. T. History of Franklin County. Columbus, 1858, 450 pp. During the next few years no cases 10. Moo re , D. L. The Medical Pioneers of of cholera occurred in Columbus but Columbus. Repr. from Columbus M. the town had received a serious J. (Feb. 1) 1898. setback. The epidemic was soon for- 11. Stud er , J. H. Columbus, Ohio, Its History, Resources and Progress. gotten and the completion of the 12. The files of the newspapers of the times National Road gave a great impetus made up the real source material used to its growth. This was shortly fol- in the preparation of this ms .