The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-19
Doctor Sim and Cholora.

deavored to show that tho author had recommend
ed for general use with the people, medicinal COM
pounds empirical and dangerous in character, and
that ho had been careless and unscentnc in his
modo of conveying tho instructions offered. His
reply, in your issue of tho 18th, has in no wise
changed opinion. The first effort in this reply
is to frighten us with the namo of WILLIAM Art
ZEN, NJ. D., Edinburgh, Professor in tho Army
Medical School, Corresponding Member of long
string of Imperial Societies, Pathologist to the
Military Hospitals, &C., &c. We are as little
moved we were, upon reading the title-page to
the pamphlet on Cholera, to find that the author
was THOMAS Sim, NJ D., and Licentiate Of the Col
lege>6f Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, Special
Health Officer, Department OF South Carolina and
Georgia, etc.
We have ehown that the titles Of the latter
author were no guarantee OF the correctness or
purity Of his Englisb and that thoy did not pro-
vent his using the nonindtiue in lieu of the geni-
tai (see formue in pamphlet) when indulging in
Latin prescription. Sc it may be, that the titles
OF the former are not synonymous with infaib-
ty Of judgment, and that they do not constitute
the individual medical authority, from which
there is no appeal. We say this with intention
al disparagenlent Of DR.. A1rKEN or his book. We
acknowledge the author as high authority, al
though We do remember reading in his book
altogether unsound upon the pathology and treat
ment of the disease. But this endeavor to adduce
authority for the Of chlorodyne, is only stuC
hro,on TO The ,ohate" In our criticism, we did not
deny the possible utility Of chlorodyne in certain
diseased conditions. We simply characterized it as
IN unscientJfc, dangerous and empirical nostrum.
Orthodox physicians will often resort to such agents
in an experimental way. KDr. AIrKEN and others in
England choose to enter the lists with the London
quacks, who are even now disputing as to what is
chlorodyne,> (see advertisements in the Medical
Times and Gazette for this year), We certainly
shall not follow their example. We fully agree with
the high authority of the editor OF the journal
ferred to- In his esue for January 1866 he says en-
emphstically, "We neuer prescribed ii (chlorodine)
ourselues, and nerer shall" 1t is legitimate to affirm
that every nostrum ever invented may have its ap-
plicability. We are not surprised, then, ut DR..
ATHENS reporting favorably upon the efficiency
Of chlorodyne in certain cases OF irritable stom-
ach. It has only now occurred to DR.. SIM in his
reply to the review Of his article, to say that he
prescribed the ohlorodyne 'for the purpose Of
preventing cramps, checking the vomiting, and
allaying irritation Of the stomach" In his PAM
phlet the article was simply ordered to be given
con the first appearances OF the 'rice-water dis
charges" The stomach seemed to give him no
concern for the remedy was pressed on every
hour, sin half a tunlble, Of water, or chamomile
OF mint tea" Did DR.. Sim get this idea also from
Dr. ATHENS book, or does he there find his prac-
tice supported?
We objected to the uso of ch!orod yne by the
people mainly because Of it containing full por-
tion of hydrooyanic acid. Poisons are often given
as remedial agents, but thcse should be prescribed
only when the physician note their effects.
With any powerful agent we are prudently en-
joined, by all good authority, to begin with min
imum dose, and watch tho result before resorting
to increased quantities. The euscoptibiIities OF
individuals differ much, that dose that is re-
medal for one may pI owe poisonous with another
1t is the true physicians duty to ascertain this
susceptibility, and to elh ,DLy in tho treatment
OF disease.
In regard to most of the so-caled poisonous
medicinal agents, tho dose is 30 arportioned in
the prescription that little increase of it, through
carelessness or mistake on the part Of the patient
or nurse, would seldom endinger life or produce
serious consequences. Thus it is that laudanum
and chloroform and morphine and sugar of lead
are every day used with impunity. The case is
vastly different whore hydrocyanic acid is the
agent prescribed, and particularly when it is or
dered in the full dose Of two drops. The size and
formation of the mouth Of the phial from which
the article is dropped may 80 determine the guam
tty given as to poison the patient To affirm,
then, that chlorodyne can be as safely trusted in
tho hands OF the people as laudanum or chloro,
form or sugar OF lead, exhibits either an ignorance
OF the relative potency Of these drugs, or q rec-
lessness in thoir use, which should not pertain to
practical physician.
But DR.. Sim has just become possessed OF the
triumphant argument in favor OF the safety and
utility Of chlorodyne. The wife OF clergyman
at Paris has administered this agent in "sirty
cases of cholera, all of ,ohona recoperedm The
remedy then can be given with safety by wo-
man, and can successfully combat the disease.
This is the argument. With all OF our prejudices
and fears, we would willingly entrust the article
with an intelligent female nurse. We have not
forgotten Miss NIGHTINGALE; nor, indeed the
many prudent women upon whom we every day
rely in our dealing with the sick. but does DR..
Sim expect eyery. cholera patient in Carolina and
Georgia to have tho benefit OF intelligent female
to carry out his directions2.
In regard to the reported cure Of the sixty cases
OF cholera, we are skeptical We're this tale true,
ana mad such boon been discovered in chloro.
dyne, already wo should have heard the shout of
thankfulness and triumph over this broad earth
The remedy, we fear, has ACCOMPLISHED too much.
When time enables us to be as credulous as DR..
sIM inregard to these sixty cases, we shall thank
God, abandon our prejudices, and render fnll ac-
knowledgment to the health officer who has
afforded us his watchful care. But DIR. Sim.
after enlghtening us with the wonderful results
OF chlorodyne at Paris, suddenly deserts the