No. II.]
V.—SECOND STAGE, DIARRHŒA—CHOLERAIC DIARRHŒA.
65
Query No. 10,—continued.
Fawcus, J., Assistant Surgeon, Ben. I.—Calomel ten grains ; and two or three doses
each of five grains at intervals of an hour. Iced acetic acid and water. Chloroform and oil
for cramps.
Jackson, J. R., Surgeon, Ben. I.—I have tried a variety of remedies, but I may briefly
state that I have most faith in one or two large sedative doses of calomel, with a very small
proportion of opium.
Irving, J., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—It must, however, be honestly confessed, that when
the remedy has been freely given and absorbed, I have seen patients who seern to be the
worse for it after a time ; and when they died, it was a question whether they had died of
the disease or the remedy. I am still inclined, however, to continue to use calomel and opium,
or calomel with bicarbonate of soda at first, because I know of no better plan of treatment.
I give ice and iced water freely.
Kirkpatrick, J., Surgeon Major, Mad, I.—It is difficult to summarize the experience
which one may have had in the treatment of cholera. What seemed to have done good in
one case or in one epidemic, has been useless in another. On the whole, I have as much
faith in calomel and opium in large doses at first, and smaller ones with aromatics and
camphor afterwards, as in any other treatment. During the purging and collapse stages, I
also think the employment of sulphuric acid with aromatics deserves some reliance ; but on
the whole, the result of treatment has been so unsatisfactory that I would be ready to try
any other proposed line of treatment that offered a prospect of better success. Judging from
the remarkable effect of tea enemata in one case, I mean to try it again on the next oppor-
tunity.
McDowall, C., Surgeon, Bom. I.—Yes, and even in earlier stages.
Mantell, A. A., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Calomel and opium every 2 or 3 hours; calomel 3 to
1 gr., opium ¼ to ½ gr.
Rennick, R. H., Deputy Inspector General, Mad. I.—At one time I had a high opinion
of calomel, but subsequent experience lessened my faith in it. During the late epidemic at
Kamptee a medical officer used it in small repeated doses, accompanied by diffusible stimuli
with success, only 15 out of 70 thus treated having died.
Smith, D. B., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Ipecacuanha in large doses is sometimes worthy of a
trial. Opium with caution. Calomel.
Wise, J. F. N., Surgeon, Ben. I.—In sporadic cases. Stevens' saline treatment; when
epidemic, calomel grs. 40, followed by 10 or 20 grain doses, with or without soda, every hour
or two. Acetic acid and chlorodyne are of use in certain cases.
Query No. 11.—Sulphuric acid in some cases appears to act beneficially ; vinegar and acid
drinks are useful.
Andrews, C. A., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—This I regard as the most useful remedy
known in choleraic diarrhœa.
Baillie, N. B., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Diluted sulphuric acid and opium, abstinence from
solid food, recumbent position.
Brake, J., Surgeon, Ben. I.—The acid, however, I believe to be chiefly useful in the
diarrhœa so often prevalent at the same time. Persons with irritation of the intestinal canal
are prone to contract the more serious disease, and this is one great reason amongst others for
«topping the so-called diarrhoea. At the onset it is often exceedingly difficult, if not impos-
sible, to say whether a particular case is one of simple diarrhœa only, or cholera in its first
stage.
Coates, J. M., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Sulphuric acid, lead, and opium, brandy and chloro-
dyne, no drinks.
Grant, W., Surgeon, Bom. B.—It does, especially in combination with quinine and
opium.
Greene, A., Civil Surgeon, Ben. I.—Acetic acid m. 10, in water 1 oz. ; to be taken every
½ hour. Blisters to the epigastrium, and hot bottles to extremities.
Hunter, G. Y., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. I.—Sulphuric acid combined with rectified
spirits in form of elixir helleri, and given with ether, has appeared beneficial, and especi-
ally where burning thirst is complained of.
Hutchinson, R. F., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Has much confidence in the vinegar treatment
½ oz. every ½ hour.
Miles, H. C., Surgeon, Bom. B.—Sulphuric acid, and dilute sulphuric acid in conjunction
with opium in solution, is in the widest sense beneficial.