58
REPLIES TO QUERIES ON THE TREATMENT OF EPIDEMIC CHOLERA. [Appendix
Query No. 7.—Calomel is valuable when the stools are light-colored.
Odoy Chund Dutt, Ben. I.—Calomel and opium, a glass of brandy, and covering up
in bed.
Payne, A., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—A dose of 5 grains of calomel.
Query No. 8.—Quinine and bitter tonics are useful, especially in the rainy season.
Cox, C, L., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I. —In wet damp weather I believe that
quinine given as a prophylactic is of much value ; it is also very useful in cases of cholera
which have assumed a remittent form.
Hastings, T., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I-—I am quite of opinion, that every-
thing which improves the general health produces an increased power of resistance. When in
1S63, I had charge of the Artillery Division at Allahabad, the 77th Kegiment which was
also at that station, in the months of June and July lost about 70 men, women, and children
from cholera. At this time I made it a practice to give one dose of quinine daily to the
Artillerymen, and caused the men to come to hospital on the least appearance of diarrhœa,
and not one case of cholera occurred amongst them.
Murray, T., Surgeon Major, Bom. I.—Quinine and bitter tonics are useful, especially in
the rainy season.
Roberts, E. J., Surgeon, Ben. I.—I have given quinine pills freely in 2 grain doses to a
large number of coolies without any beneficial effect. The number of attacks was not
diminished.
Simpson, D., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. I.—Quinine and bitter tonics of similar consti-
tution, and strychnine, protect against malaria, and should be given morning and evening as
prophylactics. It is very desirable also to check the diarrhœa. This is of paramount Im-
portance towards the treatment and cure of the disease, in order to fortify the system so as
to enable it to combat and overcome the morbific influence which is being exerted on the
nervous centres and ganglia. The treatment of cholera by potent nervine tonics, I would
submit, is not only a rational treatment of the disease, but it is in accordance with all that
is known of the physiology and pathology of cholera. The remedy must be active, and
should be administered in a soluble form, so that it may be rapidly incorporated with the
system. A remedy of sufficient potency will be found, I believe, in the alkaloids, strychnia,
and quina combined, and prescribed in solution. This should be administered as soon as
the disease is ascertained to be cholera, and it should be repeated until a sensible effect upon
the disease has been produced. If the remedy has been retained by the stomach, an in-
terval of three hours should elapse before it is repeated. If the stomach is irritable and
rejects it, it should be administered hypodermically.
Ward, T. W., Deputy Inspector General, Bom. I.—I have seen quinine do much harm
by inducing cerebral excitement and congestion.
Query No. 9.—Purgatives, especially saline, are dangerous, and are apt to induce congee
stools and collapse.
Blacklock, A., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—No more dangerous at a cholera time than any
other depressants.
Clementson, F. L., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—Most dangerous. I have known them to
cause fatal cholera when cholera was prevalent.
Cooke, A. T. L., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—Dangerous, and frequently induce congee
stools and collapse.
Hadow, G. B., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Yes. Except castor-oil as exhibited by Dr. John>on
of King's College Hospital.
Query No. 10.—Change of air useful.
Andrews, C. A., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—If there is a salubrious situation in the
vicinity ; but a fatiguing journey would develope the disease, and increase the probability of
a fatal issue,
Griffith, H., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—Removal ίο even a very small distance from
the spot at which the disease had been contracted, has, to my knowledge, changed the cha-
r.ictor of the symptoms, and secured complete immunity from the
epidemic.
Rennick, R. H., Deputy Inspector General, Mad. I.—I cannot say I have found it so
I recollect once when with a regiment on the line of march sending away an officer whose
child had died of cholera. He as well as his wife, and another child who accompanied him,
were all dead from the disease in 48
hours.