Symptoms:
A few hours or days after contracting the disease, it suddenly begins, often with sudden cramps in the back, legs, or arms. Often there is severe vomiting. So much fluid is lost that he becomes extremely thirsty, and the skin becomes dry.

Stools become thin, and contain small, white, curdlike masses.

Some cases of cholera are very light, and have few symptoms other than the diarrhea.

Cause:
Cholera occurs especially in hot, tropical climates. Filthy living conditions is generally the primary factor. Bowel discharges from those with cholera must be boiled to kill the germs. When this is not done, the disease spreads. Flies, cockroaches, ants and mice all carry the disease.

But one cannot get it if he only eats and drinks that which has been boiled. Water and milk must be boiled. Vegetables and fruits must be washed, and then immersed in boiling water for a few seconds, then peeled.

Treatment:
• Call a physician.

• Keep him quiet in bed. Provide fluids to compensate for the vomiting and fever. Diluted peppermint or spearmint tea is helpful. Have him drink a pint, then put your finger down his throat and help him get it out. This cleanses the stomach. (If he is too weak, do not do that.) Then give him a cup of hot peppermint tea to settle the stomach.

• If vomiting of mucus resumes, repeat the process.

• Goldenseal tea is also helpful.

• Give enemas white oak bark, bayberry bark, and wild cherry.

• Give hot fomentations over the bowels and the full length of the spine.

• All stools and discharges should be burned or disinfected. No one should touch what is used by the patient. Caregivers should wash their hands frequently.

• A diet of oatmeal water or slippery elm water is both nourishing and soothing. Combine with some soy milk to provide a balanced protein.