Cholera!

Many dangers threathen even our reaching the new west. Wild Animals like grizzly and black bear, coyotes and wolves are a constant fear. But the silent killer these days that threaten the entire wagon train is cholera.

Cholera killed more settlers on the westward trail that all other diseases combined. The symptoms were dysentary, vomiting, fever, convulsions, and death. Cholera could only be stopped by the Rocky Mountains higher elevations, or in the death of an entire wagon train.

At some places entire cementarys were created to bury the victims of one outbreak. Death was so certain as the end that graves were actually built before the victim had actually died.

With no lumber to build coffins on the trail, bodies were wrapped as in Biblical times in cloth and then buried in shallow graves even under large rocks that could be moved. Some victims were buried in the deep wagon ruts in an effort to conceal their graves from Indians, but the numerous wolves were next in line.

Cholera came west with the pioneers from the East Coast were it had been brought over by Asians in the 1830s.

Here a some period remedies for Cholera circulated among the pioneers:

1. Laundanum Mixture
A tablespoon with 60 drops of Laudanum in half a wine glassful of cold water. If this fails to relieve, repeat two spoonfuls with 30 drops of Laudanum every 1/2 hour. Half dose for children under 14 and 1/4 for children under 7. Do not exceed doses prescribed and stop when vomiting and cramp cease.

2. Cholera Pills
To be used if the first mixture is vomited. Two pills first, and then one every half-hour, if the first fails to relieve. Half doses for children under 14, 1/4 for children under 7.

3. Cholera Cysters (Enemas)
Injext three teaspoonfuls in a wine glassful of thin warm gruel and retain as long as possible by pressure below with a warm cloth. If not, repeat immediately by not otherwise. Half dose for children under 14, 1/4 for children under 7.

4. Mustard Poultices
A fourth part is enough for one person. Dust it thickly over porridge poutices, of which apply a large one on the belly, and others on the soles and calves. Remove when patient complains much from the pain.

That sheet is a copy of the actual sheet circulated in the plains during the 1840-1850s by the "Edinburgh Board of Health and approved by the Faculty of New York"
It was "carefully prepared" it states by Jefferson B Nones, Apothecary and Alchemist, No 644 1/2 Broadway, New York.

Until Next Time...happy trails!