64
REPLIES TO QUERIES ON THE TREATMENT OF EPIDEMIC CHOLERA.
[ Appendix
Query No. 9,—continued.
Russell, C. M., Civil Surgeon, Gya, Ben. I.—One dose of chlorodyne, or ordinary cholera
pills, opiate and ethereal effervescing draughts. I treat nearly every case with the follow-
ing :—acid sulph. dilut., m. 20 ; spirit, æther. chlorici, m. 10; tinct. opii, m. 5; mist.
camphor., 1 oz. Mix.
Sainter, J. D., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. B.—I have seen them produce very beneficial
results.
Style, M., Offg. Deputy Inspector General, Bom. I.—Very valuable for indiscriminate
distributiou.
Summers, J., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. B.—Are useful to be placed in a barrack
room, to save time during removal of patients to hospital.
Thring, R. S. 0., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—Remedies administered with marked effect
during an epidemic of one season appear inert in another, or are not attended with quite;
the same beneficial results ; but in the case of asafœtida a good result is always obtainable,
provided the patient applies early for treatment.
Turnbull, G. Α., Surgeon, Ben. Β.—In early stages of diarrhœa and exhaustion, useful.
The pills should always contain camphor, and they should be kept in glass-stoppered bottles,
Williams, H. F., Surgeon, Ben. I.—This is, I believe, Dr. Murray's formula, and I
have found the pills very useful ; but the substitution of the extract of Indian hemp for
opium is valuable, particularly in the first stage. The tendency, from the addition of this
drug, is to the elevation of the spirits and the removal of depression.
Williamson, W., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—I have used these pills, with calomel as one
of the ingredients, and consider them valuable and convenient in form.
Wilson, R., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—Cholera pills are portable, and can be sent
with facility to a distance ; they do not deteriorate by keeping for a few months, and the
combination is a valuable remedy in the early stage of cholera.
Wise, J. F. N., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Astringents with diffusible stimulants ; cholera pill
of asafœtida, camphor, black pepper and opium. Chlorodyne is also useful.
Query No. 10.—Calomel is powerful and valuable in restoring the secretions of the liver
and kidneys when the looseness is checked.
Aitken, W., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—When calomel has been given, as before
indicated, 1 have seldom seen any benefit from its continuance. When a mercurial has been
necessary subsequently, I have generally used blue pill or grey powder. I have generally
found the secretions return with little or no further interference, except regulation of diet.
Baillie, H., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—Calomel grs. 10 alone or with 1 gr. opium,
according to character of disease ; sinapisms to epigastrium and extremities.
Barker, Civil Surgeon, Ben. I.—Calomel, grs. 3 ; opium, gr. ½ ; creosote, 1 drop ; to be
given every 2 or 3 hours. Or acetic acid, drops 20; plumbi acet. gr. 4; camphor grs. 3 :
rum 1 oz. ; water 1 oz. ; to be given every hour. Frictions, sinapisms, effervescing draughts.
Bird, R., Surgeon, Ben. I.—Calomel and bicarbonate of soda, carbonate of ammonia,
arrowroot with port-wine, small quantities of water frequently.
Bose, Dr., Civil Surgeon, Ben. I.—Check the serous flux by calomel and opium, chalk
and opium, lead or nitrate of silver and opium ; gin, iced water'or soda water ; use frictions.
The calomel treatment is best for the young and robust.
Delpratt, S. Surgeon, Ben. I.—Calomel in large doses followed by nitrate of silver :
diffusible stimuli ; solution of camphor and chloroform to nostrils ; chloroform 40 drops
when vomitting is excessive.
Donaldson, J., Surgeon, Mad. I.—I look upon calomel during the disease simply as «
poison ; and it is seldom if ever required to restore the secretions after the disease is overcome.
Duckworth, F., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—Calomel is unquestionably a valuable
remedy in re-establishing the processes of secretion and excretion. But the extent to which
it should be given, both as regards each single dose and its quantity collectively, in any
particular case, should be well considered, and its immediate effect carefully watched, in
order that its use may not be prolonged so as to render the patient liable to any evil effects
during the period of re-action, when he begins to rally and when the absorption becomes
active and rapid. In my experience of this remedy given alone, I have seen the best effects
produced in many cases ; but in some, the remedy unfortunately remained inert or showed
its effects only in its cumulative action on the system so soon as the patient began to rally,
and caused much mischief. All the symptoms of mercurialism were produced, attended
with profuse salivation and sloughing of the palate, cheeks, and gums, and even causing the
loss of one or more of the teeth. A few cases also proved fatal from this cause. The ulte-
rior effects of calomel on the system ought always to be borne in mind.