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WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1919 9 Cholera Epidemics in Chicago By J. Seymour Currey (North Shore Historian) In his book of reminiscences, Charles B. George, an old-time con- ductor on the Chicago and North- western railway, whom old residents will remember ran the "Waukegan accommodation" for many years, re- lates that "away back in 1866, whan the cholera was raging in Chicago, I ran one of the largest funerallicontained these imgredients in some trains going from: Chicago to Rose-| form. : hill and Calvary that was ever Drug stores, of course, provide known. I had thirty passenger cars, | facilities for procuring necessary containing over 2,000 people, and one freight car, in which were the dead bodies of forty persons who had died on the 'previous day." That must have been either.in the month of August or September, as it was in those months that the epidemic was at its height. he Persons whose memory reaches back to the year 1866 will recall the terror and dismay of the people of Chicago, especially in the 'carly fall months of that year, by reason of its prevalence. Many persons who could do so left the city and took up their abode in parts of the coun- try free from the pestilencz. Vigor- ous measures were taken by the authorities to prevent the disease from spreading. Health officers were sent t oall incoming trains to ascer- tain whether persons were suffering from symptoms of the dreaded dis- ease and every case found was taken to improvised hospitals for treat- "ment. Such cases as were found were among arriving emigrants and in the poor quarters of the city. Dur- ing that year the total number of deaths from cholera in Chicago was 1,062. ! Employed in Pharmacy At that time I was in the employ of Bliss and Sharp, who conducted the largest drug store in the city, their store being situated on Lake street, few doors west of Clark street at the old number of 144. Sylvester B. Bliss, the senior member of that firm, lived ,in Evanston in the later years of his life and died there in + 1890. His widow and other members of the family are residents of Ev- anston at the present time. My duties during the period of the cholera visitation was the preparation and compounding of thee great variety of tinctures, elexirs, ointments, powders, etc., required for prescriptions. There was a vastly increased demand. of course, at such a time for medicines commonly used in the treatment of bowel troubles, which was what cholera essentially required. Almost all the doctors prescribed medicines, the principal ingredients of which were opium in some form (usually laudanum), rhubarb, capsicum and camphor. Tinctures of these were made up in the laboratory in large quantities, and of laudanum alone Ii remember that I.made up on fre- | quent occasions as much as five gal-* lons at a time, and comsidering that | but a few drops of this powerful | medicine constitute a dose, one can imagine the qukntities used at that time. It has been said that there are three great medicines as the prin- - cipal basis of all curative substances, which are opium (in its various forms, such as laudanum, morphine, paregoric, etc.), chinchona bark (mostly in the form ef quinine), and mercury (largely -in 'the form of calomel). Get Foreign Formula Earlier in the season when the first rumors of the epidemic were received the enterprising firm whom I have mentiened sent to Constan- tinople (where the cholera is always prevalent) to précure a fermula from the American college of that city which could be recommended to physicians here and buyers over the counter. Small two-ounce pared from his formula in great quantities, each one having printed the ingredients on the label, which, as I remembtr, usually contained im suitable proportions laudanum, rhub- arb, capsicum and camphor. In fact, nearly all the doctors' prescriptions medicines night or day by means of | a special call bell, but in a time like | this the clerks and proprietors were om duty constantly, no matter what the damger was from contagion, and bravely these men performed their duties. he doctors ware unable to write their prescriptions fast enough to answer the calls and abbreviated their prescriptions by simply writing | "mixture No. 1" or 2 or 3, as had| been agreed by previous arrange- ment. | The medicines thus supplied vials | labeled "cholera mixture" were pre-| as well as that of other districts, for | some kind of a German trophy to place in public parks or elsewhere in towns that have been particularly successful in putting over the#& quo- tas in the Victory loan that the Chi- cago bank felt it ought to issue a statement to the effect that there are no such trophies in the possession of the bank for such distribution. One of the first essentials to satis- factory marketing arrangements is standardized products. Cans, pars, were doubtless effectual in a large majority ef cases, and together with | the sadfitary regulations vigorously | carried Sout, the epidemic was got | under control, and when the late fall| months arrived the worst was over. | In fact, it was considered as com- | pletely stamped out. Since that year there has been no cholera in Chicago | Soldiers Suffered The city had suffered far more se- verely in previous epidemics of chol-| era, however. Readers who are ta) miliar with the history of the Black! Hawk war in 1832 will remember the | terrible mortality among , General Winfield Scott's army, arriving by lake from Buffalo. Eighty-eight sold-4 iers in this force died on the way | | | | or after reaching Chicago. Fort Dearborn was abandoned by the garrisofi and the men made them-| selves shelter beyond the inclosure. | There were so many deaths that the bodies were buried without coffins | and their remains have frequently | been found since that time when street excavations hava exposed | them. During all the horrors of the | situation tie conmmanding general | never wearied in his ministrations to | the suffering men. "In many a cam- paigns did this fine old hero distinguish himself," writes Stevens, "but in none did he win more fame than in this." LONDON DOCTOR URGES FAT MEN TO WEAR CORSETS Men with a paunch should wear corsets. That was the advice Dr. Leonard Williams gave the British Peace Nursery and Midwifery con- ference. His reason is based upon health principles. "Aboriginal man," sad Dr. Wil- liams, "certainly was a four-footed animal. The abdominal construction was intended fer that posture. Since human being Began to walk on their hind legs the position of abdominal organs had been thrown out of gear. "People who take plenty of outdoor exercise and athletes might get on very well withqut corsets, but per- sons who live a sedentary life require some kind of support as given by corsets." Dr. Williams said people who wore tight collars prevented proper drain- ing of their brains and thereby suf- fered bad tempers. "Since women tight collars they have become sweet- er tempered," he said. War Trophies All Gone So many requests have come to the Federal Reserve bank of Chicago, r gave up wearing |. US ON AND THE STREET e Have the Right Garment for Every Need W.H.Salishury&Co. Established 1865 308 W. Madison Street, CHICAGO Between Franklin and Market Streegs Phone Franklin 5744 HE RUBBER STORE EES | GTTRD ERE T and other containers should be gnic) form in pack, appearance, quality, and condition. Every container which is fully up to the standard represented by the label or brand will then be an advertisement in it- self and often a guarantee to further purchases. New Telephone Toll Rates Now Effective On January 21, 1919, the Postmaster General established new interstate and intrastate ~~ "telephone toll rafes e intrastate rates were not charggll _becafise of an injunction issued by the Syperior of Cook County. "decision of the United States Court empowers the Postmaster te toll rates formerly announced by the ~ Postmaster General will now apply in the State of Illinois. CHICAGO TELEPHONE COMPANY NORTH SHORE | SANDS 1ts in Michigan. re Marquette B poi i Pe To Your Vacation Spot "NORTH SHORE LINE For convenience in reaching the resort districts of Wisconsin and Michigan, ng other road offers such excellent facilities as the North Shore Line. At] Milwaukee quick difect connections can be made by electric lines to 'BE many of the ideal vacation spots of Wisconsin. Or you may connect with mm SE steamers, VIA THE hich afford a short but direct and pleasant route to he North Shore Line makes daily connections with the ats to Ludington, Mich., and is convenient to all boat ; bs leaving Milwaukee for other Michigan Points. AST LIMITED SERVICE Hourly limited for 'Milwaukee service is maintained daily with a trajn every 30 minutes on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Holidays. This convenient service affords time-saving and comfort to vacationists travelling toward ee. It is ideal for those who wish to spend a day or a week end in the beautiful country along the North Shore. Excellent dining car service. lin 1500 Automobile Owners Unite in Sending This Message Throw off one-half to §wo-thirds of the burden of tire expense by sending youn old worn tires to the Evanston Tire Treading pany to have them retreaded by the '{Lite-Rubber' /DRI-KURE process. They are gharawfeed for 8,500 miles. For further information apply to the nearest Ticket Office of the : NORTH SHORE LINE Chicago Office 66 West Adams Street Phone Central 8280 New Tires at Bargain Prices Our stoek of new tires is cofaplete, both in the . standard and the| odd sizes/amrd our prices are surprisingly low. TREADING CO. Milwaukee Office 187 Second Street Phone Grand 1136 EVANSTON . The Tire Merchants of the North Shore Phone Evanston 6537. 1613-1615 Sherman Ave., Evanston OPPOSITE CITY HALL