The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-02 00:00:00

THE TREATMENT OP CHOLERA.

The Lords of her Majesty's Privy Council having
by their medical officer, Mr. Simon, addressed a letter to
the College of Physicians relating to the expediency of
issuing instructions to the captains of merchant vessels
" how they should act when proper medical attendance
cannot be procured, so as to provide for the health of their
crews against attacks of cholera," the following is the sub-
stance of the reply forwarded by the college :
" Their lordship. request to be informed' whether, in
the opinion of the college any, and if so, what suggestions
might be issued as representing the present state of medical
knowledge and experience with regard to the drop which
should be given, or other treatment which should be
adopted, in attacks of cholera, and especially in the be-
' ginning of the disease, when proper medical attendance
cannot be procured.' Their lordships, at the same time,
submit to the college a oopy of the instructions issued on
previous occasions-
" With reference to that part of the inetauctlons ea
which their lordships particularly request the opinion of
the college, via, that which relates (1) to the necessity of
avoiding purgative medicines
to be ted when cholera
durinloihe prevalence of
cholera, and (2) the measures
appeal,* on board ship, the committee t ink—
" 1. That when opening medicine is required the mildest
should be selected, as castor oil or rhubarb. Glauber's salts
and Epsom salts are dangerous. The common belief that
prolonged costiveness should not be interfered with during
the prevalence of cholera is erroneous.
" 2. That the master should ascertain by inquiry, morn-
ing and evening, whether any of the mew are labouring
under dlarrhuss, and if so the following recommendations

are 'subjoined for his guidance :
" 3. That if a man be attacked with diarrhoea he should,
whenever it is possible, be sent to bed and kept warm, aad
some aromatic and astringent medicine, oontaming a email
quantity of opium, should be given to him at once, and
should be repotted every hour or two, according to the
seventy of the purging.
" It is suggerted that 10 grain, of the aromatic powder
of chalk and opium (of the "British Plummacepoia")
should be so given in half a glass of peppermint water or
weak brandy and water. Should this medicine not be at
hand Are measured drop of laudanum may be substituted
for each dose of the powder.
" Large doses of opium or of ardent spirits should be
articled.

_
" If the diarrheas should result from bed or obviously
indigestible food, or if the discharges are unnaturally
offensive and attended with griping pain, it would be
desirable to 're a dose of either of the gentle laxatives
abo►e named before administering the opi►tes.

1

" The diet should' consist mainly of beef teaw
or rise.
" If the discharges become colourless end maim a
purging being of the kind commonly called '
purging') and be accompanied with vomiting and ed„.7
the opiates should no longer be persisted is, sad "iz
liquors should be avoided. The patient should be' sal
kept in the recumbent position, he should be snekiri
drank water freely, and should be abundantly ofteha k
fresh air. Warm applications should be tied l
and legs, and a mustard poultice should be appuea
pit of the stomach. Cramps may be treated by naititi
affected parts with the warm hand.
" In an eases, medical advice, when attsimbis,
be obtained as soon as possible."