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REPLIES TO QUERIES ON THE TREATMENT OF EPIDEMIC CHOLERA. [ Appendix
Query No. 2,—continued.
Plank, C., Surgeon, Ben. I.—In collapse, the cry of the patient in most cases is for water.
Τ have given it without stint, and I have seen many cases where this great thirst, assuaged by
copious draughts of water vomitted again and again till the floor about the bed was wet with
water, was the precursor to a favorable termination of the disease.
Reade, J. B. C., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Most satisfactory remedies.
Roberts, W. H., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—To relieve the terrible burning thirst noth-
ing is so grateful as little pieces of ice put into the mouth, or small sips of iced water with
ammonia and soda may be given ; but ice or iced water supersedes everything.
Russell, C. M., Civil Surgeon, Ben. I.—Stimulating mixtures of ether, ammonia and
brandy ; mustard plaster over the heart ; hot animal broth, salted and peppered, and containing
chlorate of potash.
Simpson, D., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. I.—Cold or iced water supplies to the blood its watery
constituents which have been removed by the diarrhœa, and favours the elimination of urea
and of other morbid products by the kidneys. I think it should be given often and not in
too large quantities. I have seen shock and collapse rapidly supervene on a large draught
of champagne and iced soda water.
Spencer, R.. Assistant Surgeon, Bom. B.—Water pure and cold ad libitum, and pieces of
ice in the mouth to suck are I think sufficient.
Stewart, S. C., Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Bom. B.—Small pieces of ice to be
given to allay the awful thirst. I have found no benefit from forbidding indulgence in copious
graughts of cold water. Ice or iced water is always grateful, and it is usually craved for.
I give it ad libitum. I have taken it myself with unspeakable relief. The burning thirst is
the most agonizing of all the symptoms.
Turton, F. Α., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. B.—Nothing by the mouth.
Van Someren, W. J., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—I would add, let these cold drinks be given
in small quantities. Iced champagne is often well borne, and is very grateful.
Wakefield, H., Surgeon, Bom. I.—Yes ; effervescing draughts with carbonate of ammonia
are drunk at times with avidity.
Ward, T. W., Deputy Inspector General, Bom. I.—Most useful.
Waters, J. M., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. B.—Pure water, ice to suck, and soda water should
be allowed ad libitum.
Query No. 3.— Vomitting. Sinapisms or blisters to the epigastrium—hot turpentine fomenta-
tion—iced water. Large doses of calomel; of hydrocyanic acid. Vomitting gives relief
and acts as a stimulant in the most intense forms of cholera.
Allen, J. B., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Hyposulphite of soda and rum mixture every hour or half
hour ; hypodermic injections ; or hyposulphite of soda 25 grs. to 1 oz. of water.
Barnard, G., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Granting that cholera is an inflammation, so far as we are
practically concerned, of the mucous membrane lining these viscera, and that there is great
need of a remedy which shall act speedily and efficaciously upon the inflamed tissue, no remedy
is so likely to suit our purpose as antimony. Antimony is the remedy always relied upon,
and most justly so, for other acute inflammations, specially of mucous membranes, in which
calomel is not considered so fit, or rapid enough in its action.
I met with one case of cholera last month. I found a syce lying on the floor of his stable,
at 4 P. M., vomitting and purging incessantly a thin, watery, colourless fluid, with cold extre-
mities, cramps, minute pulse, &c. He had one grain of tartarized antimony given him every
quarter of an hour, three times ; ho vomitted after the first and after the second dose, but not
after the third. Thus, in half an hour the vomitting was completely checked. About three
hours after this, he was taken to hospital in a very great state of prostration, but perspiring
freely, and there was no purging. He had ammonia and brandy and water given him at
intervals, and he gradually recovered. Ho passed urine at 5 P. M. on the next day for the
first time for six and thirty hours. He had no other medicine, and was discharged well on the
third day. Antimony should not be given in the preliminary stage of diarrhœa, if there is
such a stage ; I do not propose it as a remedy for diarrhœa,—we have one, a sufficient and
thoroughly good and reliant one, namely, opium.
Cooke. A. L. T., Surgeon, Mad. I.—Sinapisms are excellent remedial agents. A sheet
wrung out in cold water and applied to the epigastrium gives great relief, and this often
checks the vomitting. Give iced water ad lilitum.
Francis, C. R., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—No opium ; water freely ; calomel
drachm
½ every hour, at intervals of 2 or 3 hours till bile appears—if necessary, up to grs. 300 ; tinct.
cantharidis m. 5, with a warm stimulant mixture to be given at intervals with the calomel—
if required up to 2 drachms of the tincture, Mortality in this stage, under this treatment,
less than 30 per cent.