Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-27
CHOLERA IN NEW YORK

From 10 o'clock Friday to the same hour on Sa,
turday there occurred in the City and Hospitals,
BIZ new & l04 deaths, of which 19I new cases
were in the city. The malady is therefore fearful
ly on the increase although there appears from the
last report considerable abatement in its malign
ty.
Among tho infntude Of advices for trea tment
of Cholera with which the Public Prints abound,
the Edinburg Weekly Chronicle contains one for
treating the disease in the last or stage of collapse
which Is highly interesting from its holiness and
the success which attended it. That Journal thus
describes it,
1.-THE second stage of Cholera, or the stage of
collapse it has been called has, in thi, country
Mt least, bat1ed the utmost exertons of our most
talented Physicians, there being no remedy or me-
thod of treatment on which they could depend. 1t
Is however, with much pleasure that able to
state that remedy has lately been tried in Leith
and this City, which will go far to deprive this
malady of its horrors, and the principles which
it was founded, will ultimately BIO the means of
much improvement in the treatment of other dis
The remedy consists in injecting saline flu.
ids into the veins, practice which any medical
man, from reasoning Priori, would have declared
would be productive of the fatal consequent
ces. 1t is founded on the fact, that f.. IN the ex-
ccssve executions in Cholera, the blood is depri
we'd of ofts essential ingredients viz the serons
watery portion, and the only method of supplying
this, appears TO be by introducing into the system
a fluid, resembling in its chemical properties, us
nearly possible, that which has been evacuated
This fluid is formed by dissolving 9 drachms of
the muriate of soda, common salt, and 9 scru-
pies of the sub carbonate of soda, in FIVE pounds of
water, shen adding the whites of three eggs, beat
ing them we'll together, and afterwards stranng
the solution. This is to be introduced into the
veins at temperature of Id degrees (blood heat)
The operation is extremely simple, the only instru-
ment requisite, is common stomach pump, with
small silver tube to fit the vein, which is general
of of tho re
opened as in ordinary yenisecton; one extremity
of the small silver tube is introduced at the orfce
the other is accurately fitted TO the tube of the
mach pump, and the fluid is forced i'm by successive
strokes of the piston. The only precaution ncces
sary, is to exclude the air.
''Thrteen patients have now been treated at
Drummond street Hospital, by injecting fluids iii
this way and in all the immediate effects have been
truly wonderful. patient has in with his
eyes and counteDancc sunk, his voice changed into
mere whisper, his skin deadly cold, moro the feel
of corpse than Of living person, his pulse no
longer perceptible at the wrist, and most insa
table desire for cold drinks In FIVE minutes after
this simple operation has been performed the pulse
has not only returned to the wrist, but become
strong and full. The heat of the skin returns, and
coplous PcrsPiration generally takes place; the
voice regans its natural one and the violent thirst
is no longer complained of; if cramps arc preva-
lent, tbey are also relieved. In short the patient
is far restored to be able to talk and even 10
est with tho attendants.
1.-THE quantity Of the fluid to be injected is 10 be
regulated by the peculiar state of each pationt-
In some much as 40 pounds (here an intel
iigent editor puts mark thus which is to enquire
if there NAV not BIO somo mistake as to this uuanti
ty) have been injected within "a hours, 10 pounds
being thrown in at each operation. THIS mode Of
treatment applies only to the stage of collapse; and
indeed, that is the only stage where medical men
have been focd; the ether two stages being quite
as manageable any other disease. OF the l3
cases that have been treated, have recovered
arc III process of recovery, every Of which in
all probability. would have died. The other SIX
have died; and respecting these it must be kept
IN view, that they most hopeless cases, and
all OF them individuals whose constitutions were
completely exhausted by previous disease.
"SInce the above was put in type, we find ac-
counts from Liverpool on conformation of the sue.
of the bold measure described Dr. J,atta OF
Leith, is said TO have first made trial of the prac
ticc."
We find inore-Teason for consolation in the A.
bovc than any thing we have yet read on the mode
oftroating Cholera. 1t omanates too, from the
Capital of Science, Edinburg, and ~ on that nc.
count, farther entitled to the respectful considera
ton of the world. The stage Of Collapse was re-.
gardcd before, one Of utter hopelessness of re.
covcry, from which we understand there was per.
haps not single Instance Of recovery, the stage
in fact, when death lad already laid his hand on
the patient. The discovery will in all probability
lead to most important results in tho heslipg art.