Write Right~Merciless Killers (Asiatic Cholera, Cholera Morbus, and Cholera Infantum)

After I discovered the possible cause of death of my grandmother’s sister in the late 1800s from cholera infantum, I began researching to better understand the disease. That search led me into a maze of historical medical information--everything from disease etiology to medicines of the past.

In 19^th century American medical records, three types of cholera are mentioned. Cholera morbus, cholera infantum, and Asiatic cholera. Asiatic cholera was (and is) caused by Vibrio cholerae, which was spread by water and food contaminated by an infected person. It could also be contracted by eating raw or undercooked shellfish. This is the “real” cholera that usually occurred in epdemic waves. Here’s one reference that a writer of historical fiction might be able to use: http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=487

Cholera morbus and cholera infantum were terms for non-specific diarrhea in adults/older children and young children/infants, respectively. Cholera morbus was sometimes called the summer complaint--somewhat of an understatement based on what I've read. Cholera morbus and cholera infantum attacked from June or July to September or October.

Cholera infantum was a merciless killer, and the progression of the disease was frightening to watch. At the onset, the infant developed diarrhea. That was followed by vomiting. The infant was terribly thirsty, but couldn’t retain liquid. Soon the infant’s body became emaciated, the belly distended, and eyes sunk into the sockets. Often the little one would convulse. The skin became flaccid, cold, and gray. As the disease advanced to the end, the infant would sink into a coma and die.

The symptoms of cholera morbus were similar to cholera infantum and just as frightening. They began with excessive weakness and burning in the stomach. Then the person began to vomit and developed diarrhea. The patient was extremely thirsty, but unable to keep anything down.  As the disease progressed, the victim’s pulse grew weak and breathing became difficult. As with cholera infantum, the skin grew pale and cold. Eyes sunk in their sockets, looking heavy, dull, and sometimes filmy. Convulsions and severe cramping of the legs would occur.  

During the 1800s and into the early 1900s, doctors had numerous hypotheses for the origin of these two diseases. Theories changed as the centuries progressed. Excess bile in the stomach, miasmas of the air, unhealthy breast milk, crowded living quarters. . .the list is lengthy. Treatments changed as well. Cathartics, emetics, and bleeding, to herbal remedies and opiates. Some of the treatments had merit; others were deadly. The etiology of these two diseases appears to be unknown, but they were probably caused by a variety of gastrointestinal pathogens.

These tragic diseases could certainly lend some drama to the plot of an historical novel. Perhaps the miraculous recovery of an infant. Or a heroine/hero bitter about the loss of her infant or family member.

In closing, I want to stress that the information I’ve presented here is by no means complete. The topic is a broad one, and the information, especially in old documents, is scattered and sometimes contradictory.

*****

Here are two references I found:

Remarks of the Cholera Morbus: Containing a Description of the Disease the Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment; H. Young, M.D.;Smith, Elder, and Co. Cornhill; 1818 (I think. I can’t clearly read the Roman numerals.)

Save the Babies, American Public Health Reform and the Prevention of Infant Mortality, 1850-1929; Richard A. Meckel; The Johns Hopkins University Press; 1990

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Write Right ~ Cholera Infantum and Pepto-Bismol®

My apologies for missing last week’s blog. My daughter, who lives in San Diego, was in a motorcycle accident. When the bike fell, her left hand was caught under the handle. Among other things, the ring finger on her left hand was scraped down to the tendon. (I immediately booked a plane ticket to California, thankful the accident hadn’t been worse.)

What does this have to do with The Borrowed Book blog? A couple of things. I’m still in San Diego, away from my research books. I’m also busy taking care of things for my daughter who can’t use her left hand. That means I can’t write the article I’d intended. But I can share a couple of interesting things with you.

Two weeks ago I told you the story of baby Mabel, the sister my grandmother never knew. Mabel most likely died from a disease called cholera infantum, which isn’t related to cholera at all, although the symptoms are similar. I had planned to explore this disease in more depth—especially some of the treatments that were used at the time—but I haven’t had the time. However, here’s a tidbit that I discovered during my research.

You know that thick, pink concoction we use to soothe our upset tummies called Pepto-Bismol®? A recent television commercial for the product ended with, “Pink does more than you think!” That could be changed to, “Pink is more historical than you think.”

In the late 1800s, a doctor from New York developed the original formula to cure (none other than) cholera infantum. The original ingredients were pepsin, zinc salts, salol*, and oil of wintergreen. He colored it pink and called it Mixture Cholera Infantum. The formula has changed since then, as has the name and manufacturer. You can read more about the history here:  http://www.pepto-bismol.com/about-history.php .

I don’t know if the old Pepto-Bismol® cured cholera infantum, but I do know if Mabel had been born one hundred years later, she probably would have lived. In fact, I doubt she would have contracted the disease at all. And one hundred years ago (according to the plastic surgeon who operated on my daughter’s hand) an injury like the one she received would have meant the loss of the use of her finger. (There was no flesh over the tendon for skin to grow on, so the tendon would have hardened and stopped working.) Imagine farmers or sailors working with thick rope. . .

I’m grateful for a merciful God who has given us the medical knowledge we have today. And I'm grateful that my daughter wasn't hurt more severely. 

*Salol, also known as phenyl salicylate, is a chemical substance introduced in 1886 by Marceli Nencki of Basel. It was created by heating salicylic acid with phenol, which forms a white powder that supposedly tastes pleasant. It has been used to absorb light in sun tan lotions and plastic, a preservative, an antiseptic, and a coating for pills. Salol supposedly had an antibacterial effect in the small intestine. It’s also used in lab demonstrations to show how cooling rates affect crystal size in igneous rocks. Based on its chemical name (phenyl salicylate), it must also be related to Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), but I don't exactly know how. Wow. Talk about versatility.

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Mystery of the Death of an Infant

Last week I stated that poisons will be my blog topic series for the near future. I’m sorry, but I have to interrupt myself. I want to share a discovery that will indirectly tie into a discussion of poisons. It might also be useful to an historical writer.

Approximately twenty years ago, my grandmother and I were going through a box of old photos. I came upon one picture of a baby (see photo), and my Grandmother said, “That was Mabel. She was born two years before me and died when she was eight months old.”

“How did she die?” I asked.

My grandmother shrugged and said, “Something called phantom.”

I questioned her further, but she remembered nothing else. No clues to find out what this disease or illness was. I assumed the word phantom was her interpretation of something she’d heard as a child. Kids often hear words wrong.

My grandmother died a few years after that discussion. With her passing, I lost the only person who remembered little Mabel. I entered her into my family tree, then wrote down the few facts I knew on the back of the cardboard picture and tucked it into my genealogy notebook.

Forward about ten years. . .

I got a computer and internet access, and tried to research the disease. I used the spellings “phantom,” “fantum,” and “fantom,” but found nothing in the online lists of old diseases available at that time. Eventually I stopped looking, and Mabel’s memory and her picture were once again relegated to my genealogy notebook.

Forward to the present. . .

My husband and I were watching Marshall Dillon (the show that preceded Gunsmoke) on the Western Channel, as we do every evening lately—him on the couch, and me in the chair with my computer in my lap. During this broadcast, Doc Adams diagnosed a cowboy with “brain fever.”

What exactly was brain fever? I wondered. I’d heard of it before, but didn’t know the details. So, I Googled it. One thing led to another, as often happens with internet exploration, and I found one site that contained a long list of old-timey diseases and the modern disease equivalents.

( http://www.antiquusmorbus.com/English/EnglishC.htm )

Out of curiosity, I glanced down the list. That’s when I discovered what probably happened to Mabel.

Cholera Infantum. In all likelihood, as a youngster, my grandmother heard about Mabel’s death, and her child’s mind remembered only the last portion of the disease. . .fantum. Now I have a likely cause of death to put in my photo album with Mabel’s picture. 

Cholera infantum isn’t related to cholera at all, but the symptoms are similar. It was a ruthless, brutal summertime killer of babies. I’m not sure where the word infantum comes from. Maybe from the Latin word infantia, which means infancy? But while reading about the disease, I found some information that’s worth sharing, in particular treatments that probably killed more babies than saved them. That will be my discussion next week and will segue beautifully into a discussion of poison.

Does anyone else have a story like this to share about a long ago family member?

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