Annual report of the Surgeon General of the state of Wisconsin, for the year ending December 31, 1865

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

SURGEON GENERAL,

OF THE

STATE OF WISCONSIN,

FOR THE TEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1865.

»

MADISON:

ATWOOD & RUBLES, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS.
1866.

EXECUTIVE MESSAGE.

Executive Department, )
Madison, Wis., March 1st, 1868. )

To the Honorable, the Assembly :

I herewith transmit the report of the surgeon general of the state
as requested by resolution No. 68, adopted by the assembly.

LUCIUS FAIRCHILD.

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SURGEON GENERAL’S REPORT.

Milwaukee, Dec. 31, 1865.

To His Excellency, James T. Lewis, Governor of Wisconsin :

Sir : — In my annual report of December 31st, 1864, I ventured
the prediction of a speedy and glorious termination of the great
conflict then razing fearfully throughout the country ; in view of
which fact, I felt encouraged to go on in the discharge of the duties
of my position, as best I might, until the long wished for time
should arrive. In a little over three months from that date the
surrender of the rebel general Lee and his army to our forces, virtu--
ally ended the war. One universal burst of thanksgiving and praiso
to God, the army, the navy and government, welled up from every
loyal and true heart in the land ; for preserving in its perfect integ¬
rity our national existence ; for securing to all our citizens the full
enjoyment of their inalienable rights ; for the establishment of the
“ sacred dogma of equality,” as announced in the immortal declara.
tioa of independence, and for the .signal vindication of the excel¬
lence and power of our republican form of government, which will
hereafter stand a monument without spot or blemish for the admira¬
tion, instruction and protection of mankind.

Desperate and protracted as the struggle has been, it is daily be¬
coming more evident, that all the blood, time and treasure expended
was indispensable to the final settlement of the great questions in¬
volved, and now, that the conflict of arms is over, may we, in the

6

final closing up of this eventful period, be able to show to the world
//)&* the statemanship, wisdom and patriotism of our rulers and legisla¬
tors, is equal to the task before them ; that they have length, breadth
and depth of comprehension sufficient to measure, weigh and adjust
all issues in such manner as shall best subserve the well being of
the people and the government.

Immediately after the end of hostilities, began the reduction of
the army, and continued with unprecedented rapidity, until now
over eight hundred thousand troops have been discharged, and the
department is proceeding rapidly in the work of further reduction.

Following this reduction of the army with equal celerity, were the
sick and wounded in hospitals returned to their respective states, or
concentrated at other points nearer and more convenient, if unable
to travel far enough to reach their homes, so that general hospitals
disappeared like the armies that had supplied them with inmates.
In this movement Wisconsin was second to no other state. The
visit made by your excellency, whom I had the honor and pleasure
to accompany, reached neafly every hospital in the country contain¬
ing Wisconsin soldiers. Vested with authority to return without
delay to the state, all who were able to travel, the effect can scarce¬
ly be appreciated, except by those to whom the glad tidings were
brought, or such others as were present to. witness it. That out of
the large number who, by this prompt movement, arrived at home
months sooner than they otherwise could — many lives were saved —
to say nothing of the gratification of an earlier return to others — I
have no doubt.

This was the last and most satisfactory trip I took part in, con¬
nected with the war — being more a looker on than active partici¬
pant in the duties connected therewith. It also extended over a
wider field than any before entered upon — embracing not only the
« hospitals at the great centers east of the Alleghanies but those on
the Gulf, at Mobile and New Orleans, as well as those on the line
of the great rivers west, which, as above stated, comprised nearly
all containing any considerable number of Wisconsin soldiers.

The great anxiety of a vast majority of the soldiers of the vol¬
unteer army, after the end of active hostilities, was to get home.
This feeling was greatly intensified by confinement in hospitals
whether from sickness or wounds ; whatever, therefore, increased

7

the prospect for an early return home, was to them the pearl of great
price. Under such circumstances, the effect of a visit from the
chief executive officer of the state, the object of which was to grat¬
ify that intense desire, can be much more easily imagined than des¬
cribed. It can very readily be seen that my occupation was gone
— having very little to do except to observe the powerful influence
of mind under favorable impressions, over the “ills that flesh is
heir to.”

The result of the trip was most satisfactory. Hundreds of the
sick and wounded from the various hospitals visited, returned to
their homes on the very heels of the expedition, which commenced
early in May and ended the last of June.

The United States general hospitals in Wisconsin, have ail been
closed for several months — the inmates having mostly returned to
their homes.

The surgeons and assistant surgeons of the medical staff of our
state, like the great body of volunteers, have quietly returned to
their former professional labors — in which field, and through the
whole balance of their lives, I most cordially wish them all the hap¬
piness and success, due to their patriotic labors while serving in the
army of the Union.

The subjoined table contains all appointments, promotions, resig¬
nations, discharges, dismissals and deaths that have occurred in this
department to date.

About the 20th of October, I had the honor to receive through
the executive office, a copy of a letter to your excellency, from Hon.
Wm. H. Seward, secretary of state, inviting your serious attention
to an accompanying letter from the acting surgeon general, U. S,,
to whom had been referred a dispatch from the U. S. minister at
Constantinople, relative to the ravages of cholera in that quarter,
&c. The acting surgeon general recommended that the attention of
the governors of the states be invited to the facts contained in said
dispatch with a view to the prompt establishment of rigid quaran¬
tine regulations to prevent, if possible the introduction of the chol¬
era. into this country. Your excellency referring the subject to me
for such suggestions and recommendations as I might think proper
to make in the premises.

Feeling no apprehension that the cholera would prevail epidemic-

8

ally, in the United States, earlier than the warm season of 1866, I
deemed it appropriate and believed it would be seasonable to intro¬
duce such remarks as I had to make upon the subject in ;ny annual
report, which arrangement, I trust, will meet your excellency’s ap¬
probation.

From the science and practice of medicine, by Win. Aitkin, M.
D., I quote the best definition of cholera I have seen :

“A disease essentially of miasmatic origin, developed under cer¬
tain atmospheric and terrestrial local conditions in Europe, Asia
and America, and capable of being propagated or diffused, to a cer¬
tain extent, over the surface of the earth, through the atmosphere
or in some other way, and also, by means of human intercourse be¬
tween the healthy and the sick. It is characterized by premonitory
diarrhoea, sudden muscular debility, tremors, vertigo, eccasional
nausea, and spasmodic griping pains in the bowels, depression of the
functions of respiration and circulation, and a sense of faintness ;
copious purging of serous fluid, succeeded by vomiting, and burning
heat in the stomach ; coldness and a dampness of the whole surface
of the body'; coldness and blueness of the lips and tongue ; cold
breath ; a craving thirst ; a feeble, rapid pulse : difficult and op¬
pressed respiration, with extreme restlessness ; suppressed urinary
secretion ; blueness of the entire surface of the body ; a sunken
and appaling countenance ; a peculiarly suppressed voice; a peculiar
odor from the body; partial heats of the precordia and forehead ;
fatal collapse, or reaction or secondary fever,” and I would add, oc¬
casional prompt recovery.

No one who has carefully read the above definition of cholera
need ever mistake a case, although it be the first seen, and as com¬
paratively very few of our population have ever seen cholera, which
in its epidemic form, is so rapidly fatal, that unless remedial meas¬
ures are resorted to with the utmost promptitude- '-relief is not to
be expected ; hence the necessity for recognizing the first symp¬
toms of the attack, when appropriate remedies are very generally
successful ; but where a brief delay would render the most effica¬
cious means ineffectual. That as many as possible may be qualified
to promptly recognize an attack in either themselves or friends is
my excuse for making this rather lengthy quotation.

It is not my purpose to enter into the history of this fearful epi-

9

demic, about which, both by professional and non-professional ob¬
servers, volumes have been written, that is, enough to make volumes
if brought together, within the past quarter of a century. Its east¬
ern origin, as its name implies, “Asiatic cholera,” or “ cholera
Indica,” is very generally understood, and that within the present
century it has several times spread rapidly over most of the habita¬
ble globe, is but too vividly remembered by many who have witness¬
ed at least two of its visitations to our own country ; but that it
has become indigeneous in many parts of Europe, and even in
America, is not so generally understood.

That sporadic cases of cholera occasionally appear in different
parts of the United States, is a fact well known to the profession,
and proves the correctness of Doct. Aitkin’s definition, that it is
“ developed under certain atmospheric and terrestrial local condi¬
tions, in Europe, Asia and America.” Well marked cases of Asi¬
atic cholera have appeared in many places in the United States dur¬
ing the past summer — three of which have come under my own ob¬
servation — one on the Mississippi river, in the month of June, and
two in Milwaukee in August — one of the latter fatal. All the
cases of the past year, no doubt, originated in “local conditions,”
entirely independent of epidemic influence. Now, suppose in addi¬
tion to the local causes which have proved sufficient in some parts
of America to developo the disease, we permit the epidemic influence
which is rapidly approaching us, and will most probably, in the

I summer and autumn of 1866, again sweep over the United States
— to be superadded — the result will be that the combined power of
the two causes will sweep thousands to their graves, who, by timely
attention to the “ local conditions,” might have escaped without an

! attack. It is very certain we cannot, in any appreciable degree,
control the epidemic influence about which we know little or noth¬
ing.

The “ lo^al conditions” or causes which surround us on all hands
are quite different things. With these we are acquainted — we not
only know their locality and nature, but how to remove or abate
them ! Is it not most clearly then the dictate of common sense
to free ourselves from this powerful ally of the epidemic ? Without
this aid, it may pass from the country almost harmless ; for no fact,

connected with the disease, is better established than that vast num-

*

10

bers of persons within its epidemic influence, by a general observ¬
ance of the laws of health, escape its development. Let it be dis¬
tinctly understood, that the “local conditions” so frequently allud¬
ed to, mean filth in all its various forms, whether in privies, cess¬
pools, dry wells, damp, unventilated, unclean cellars, undrained
sloughs, exposed earth on which is thrown the various slops from
the kitchen, etc. etc. All such are nuisances to be abated. In
many cases this can best be done during the cold season. After the
removal, such disinfectants as will deodorize and thoroughly neu¬
tralize every emanation calculated to vitiate the air and load it with
the germs of disease, must be freely used ; in short, such rigid po¬
lice should be inaugurated by every family in the land, that the local
conditions shall cease to exist.

Nor is this all, the laws of health more directly connected with
each individual, in the observance of cleanliness, regularity and
temperance in all things, are not to be neglected. Let no one be
deceived — intemperate men, whether in the use of stimulating drinks,
tobacco or any other vile habit they may have, such as drugging
themselves with preventives, etc., will be very apt, according to their
predilections and habits, to use and advise repeated potations of
brandy — constant fumigation of tobacco smoke, or this or that nos¬
trum — all well meant, but obviously damaging, and often, under ep¬
idemic influence, the immediate exciting cause of the disease. Fear,
by its depressing effects, is among the most frequent causes in de¬
veloping cholera, and depends for its existence, more on the common
fallacy, that it is taking or contagious, than on all its other suppos¬
ed or real attributes. I am aware that some of the profession en¬
tertain the opinion, that it is contagious. Of such I would inquire,
why, in sporadic cases, is it not communicated to physicians, nurses,
attendants and all others exposed? Would small pox, in the midst
of an unprotected community, end with the individual attacked?
All who know anything on the subject, know it would not. Instead
of every body escaping, the rule would be, nearly every body expos¬
ed would have the disease.

It certainly is not contagious in the common acceptation of the
term ; that is, it is not contagious as small pox, or other forms of
disease universally recognized a3 such, are contagious. No one can
question these facts in sporadic cases, and in its epidemic form the

11

same facts exist. In ’49, I myself, attended hundreds of cases in
all stages of the epidemic, many of them being rapidly fatal, ex¬
posed to emanations of every deeeription belonging to the worst
forms of the disease. If contagious, why did I not contract the
disease ? I speak of myself, because these are facts about which I
do know. The same is equally true of the profession generally
throughout the country, and I may add, the world, wherever the
cholera prevailed. Does this seem like contagion? It is true, a
few doctors, nurses and attendants were attacked ; not more, how¬
ever, than would have been had the epidemic been influenza, or any
other noq contagious disease.

I know of but one way to secure that perfection of police and
general sanitary condition, indispensable to the protection of any or
all communities ; whether in cities, towns, villages or rural districts,
and that is, impressing the fact on each individual family that their
immunity from the ravages of thisfeU disease depends almost entire¬
ly on themselves. To this end I submit the following advice and
directions, addressing myself to whom it concerns, that is, to every
family in the State.

Examine critically every point about your premises, privies, cess
pools, dry wells, cellars, the outlet of drains, whether in street or
alley, decomposing garbage, manure, or any other nuisance. ^When
submitted to such searching and earnest inspection, but few estab¬
lishments will be found above sanitary criticism. Having in this
way discovered all the “local conditions” requiring attention, the
next and important thing is to apply the correctives. During the
winter is the time to abate many of the worst nuisances above enu¬
merated. Privies, cess pools, dry wells, damp, foul, unventilated
cellars, etc. See to it that t^ey are not only thoroughly cleaned out,
but that sue/ disinfectim* as quicklime, chloride of lime, or some
of the metafic salts, as sulphate of iron, chloride of zinc, etc., are
freely used. In the use of sulphate of iron and chloride of zinc, a
pound of either to a gallon of water is a good proportion. Take
care that the sulphate of iron is completely dissolved, and that the
chloride of zinc is thoroughly mixed before using. If the material
to be disinfected, has an offensive smell, go on with the process till
it has entirely ceased. Heaps of manure which are not or cannot bo
removed, or any other filth so situated, should be covered with fresh

12

burnt lime, or what is better pulverized fresh burnt charcoal. Any
exposed earth, soaked with slops, containing animal or vegetable
matter, or both, requires the same treatment. Drains are best
treated with chloride of lime, a pound of which which will disinfect
a thousand gallons of ordinary sewerage. These measures should be
resorted to and thoroughly applied during the present winter and on
the opening of spring and approaching summer, with the increasing
heat, the ratio of vigilance should be at least commensurate there¬
with.

Suppose we should be so fortunate as to escape the epidemic, will
all this labor be lost? By no means, it is what should at all times
be observed.

It is not to be supposed that in cities, towns and villages, nor
even in the country, will every family put in practice the foregoing
suggestions, and if they were to do so, still nuisances and sources of
pestilence will be found on ajarger scale than those already alluded
to, which for their abatement require organized action. A heavy
responsibility is resting on all municipal authorities throughout the
land. If they neglect the duty of attending seasonably to all ne¬
cessary police and sanitary measures, in anticipation of the approach¬
ing epidemic — whatever of mortality results from such neglect must
rest upon them. They cannot excuse themselves on the ground that
lack of time, for want of seasonable notice prevented; such not’ce
was served many months since, and even now abundance of time yet
remains, if proper energy and attention be devoted to the subject.

As a fair representation of the class of nuisances under consider
ation, take, for instance, the slaughter houses and their surround-
jngs of the city of Milwaukee — and it is presumable they represent
iairly the condition of such establishments elsewhere. There is
however, one feature that may be 'peculiar to the slaughtering estab¬
lishments of this city, which deserves especial attention They are
situated on the banks of the Menomonee river, which, at this place,
runs through an extensive marsh, that, since their erection, until
recently, owing to the high stage of water in the lak , has been cov¬
ered, to a greater or less depth, with water. For eighteen months
or two years past the lake has been falling, so that the river
is now within its banks and an extensive surface exposed, that for
a series of years has been absorbing all the various animal matters

13

connected with extensive slaughtering establishments. This surface
exposed to the heat of the coming summer, which has hitherto had
the protection of a covering of water, cannot fail to be a fruitful
source of disease, whether cholera prevails epidemically or not, and
demands, most emphatically, the attention of the city authorities.
In addition to this, in most of the low and level parts of the city,
foul drains and ponding of drainage, and general neglect of scaveng¬
ing, call for prompt attention.

In addition to all that can bo done by individuals, families and
public authorities — every city and town in the State should be di¬
vided into districts of suitable size. In each district a board of
health should be organized, one of whose members should be a phy¬
sician. The duties of this board should be to examine into the san-
%

itary condition of the district ; looking carefully to the condition of
the poor ; advising them in all matters connected with their health ;
ascertaining whether any premonitions of cholera exists among them,
and adwising and furnishing such remedies as are necessary to check
the disease in season. At short stated periods these boards should
report to the authorities, or a central board, during the continuance
of the epidemic. Such proceedings will be attended^by some expense,
but they will prove a large economy in the land,' should epidemic
cholera call for them.

On the subject of quarantine and other regulations predicated on
the contagious character of cholera, I have but little to say. Not
believing it contagious, I, therefore, do not believe in the efficacy of
such measures to prevent its introduction. Knowing nothing of the
epidemic influence, nor of the means by which it spreads over conti¬
nents and oceans — doubting even the idea, that it is conveyed along
the ordinary channels of travel, either by land or water, with any
more facility than in directions where such channels of intercourse do
not exist — the reason why it appears under such circumstances, being
the great numbers present, offering more chances for its development
and probably more “ local conditions ” favoring it. Entertaining
such opinions, it would be great folly for me to offer any suggestions
on the subject of preventing the introduction of the epidemic in¬
fluence.

Here I intended to have closed my remarks on this important sub¬
ject, but having 'list received, through tne post office, a copy of a

14

report by the “ council of hygiene and public health, of the citizens’
association of New York, upon epidemic cholera and preventive
measures,” I am induced, from the exalted professional standing of
the committee, as well as from the excellence of the maxims append¬
ed to the report, which are as appropriate and valuable here as there,
to make them also an appendix to the foregoing, believing they will
greatly add to its value.

RRECAUTIONARY RULES AND DUTIES.

1. Avoid all causes of excessive nervous exhaustion ; avoid in¬
temperance in eating and drinking ; live upon a nourishing diet, and
keep the digestive functions in a healthful condition.

2. Avoid and discourage panic and needless anxiety where the ep¬
idemic is announced, remembering that in its premonitory stage chol¬
era is generally curable, and that all the exciting causes of the mal¬
ady can be avoided.

8. Promptly second the efforts of the public authorities in all en¬
lightened plans for protecting the public health, especially in all
that relates to civic cleanliness, the abatement of nuisances, and the
proper care and feeding the poor.

4. If in business, or charged with any public or philanthropic du¬
ty, do not forsake your posts of personal or official labor, except
when suffering from premonitory symptoms of cholera or other sick¬
ness.

5. Aid and encourage the removal and prevention of the localizing
and excitiDg causes of cholera throughout the district in which you
reside.

6. Give particular attention to the drainage, dryness and cleanli¬
ness of your premises and the neighborhood, and see to it that the
water supply is both pure and sufficient.

7. Inculcate habits of personal neatness.

8. Avoid the employment of purgative drugs, except when pre¬
scribed by your physician.

9. Avoid and prevent effluvia from excrementitious matter, sew¬
ers, privies, or chamber vessels ; frequently and thoroughly disinfect
these sources of fever poison.

10. Insist upon the utmost cleanliness and purity of every portion
of your apartments, furniture and domicile.

15

11. Thoroughly and frequently ventilate every apartment in the
dwelling, even to the cellars, closets and vaults. This should be
aided by fires in open fire places, wherever available-

12. Carefully protect the body from sudden alteration of temper¬
ature. Wear flannel, and when exposed to changeable temperature,
or sulfering any disorder of the bowels, wear a broad flannel band,
extending from the top of the hips to the middle of the body.

18. Be prudent in the use of food and beverages, being particu¬
larly attentive to quality and digestibility.

14. Bear in mind the fact, that a painless diarrhoea is the most
invariable precursor of cholera, and if not immediately and properly
treated, it will more probably terminate fatally than favorably.

RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN CASE OF AN ATTACK BY CHOLERA.

1. Soon as attacked by the premonitory diarrhoea, or any symp¬
toms of cholera, seek immediate repose in a recumbent posture,
where warmth and a pure atmosphere will be enjoyed. Immediately
procure competent medical attendance.

2. Let the exerementitious matters from the |>ick be disinfected in
the vessel as soon as voided, by means of cprbo&ate of lime, sulphate
or proto-chloride of iron, coal tar, carbonic acid, or per manganate
of potash ; and let no person directly use the privy into which such
materials are emptied, while cholera is prevailing. Whenever prac¬
ticable let the evacuated matter be deeply buried in the earth, and
immediately covered with quick lime or coal tar and gravel.

3. Let all the vessels and clothing, that are used by the patients,
be immediately cleansed with boiling water and soap, or alkaline,
chloride or permangate.

4. Preserve the utmost degree of personal cleanliness of the sick
and their attendants.

I will end by quoting the concluding paragraph of the report :

“Every city and village in the land has a common interest with
New York in the sanitary care and improvements that are now re¬
quired for defence against cholera ; for this metropolis is at once a
chief centre of trade and of peril. In every city, town and domi¬
cile let the watchword be cleanse, cleanse, cleanse .”

In submitting this, my last annual report connected with the re¬
bellion, I cannot refrain from acknowledging my deep indebtedness

16

to each respective state administration through the war. The kind¬
ness and courtesy uniformly extended by the chief executive and
different state departments, have lightened all duties and responsi¬
bilities, and have been a constant incentive to faithfulness and per¬
severance to the end. Having now only to regret that more of util-
ty does not remain behind,

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

E. B. WOLCOTT,
Srirgeon General of Wisconsin.

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