The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-08-09
CHOLERA 7 REATMENT.
Observations of DR.. Davis.

observations of DR.. Davis.
We find, in the current number of the Cincin-
nati Lance. and Observer, an article by DIR. JOHN
DAVIS, one of the most einluent and skful allo.
pathic physicians of the Western States, in which
he gives particulars concerning the treatment OF
cholera, which will, doubtless, have interest for
those Of our readers who adhere to the allo-
pathic method.
After reviewing the different modes of treat
ment and remedies which have been adopted in
various countries, and showing their uncertainty,
DR.. DAVIS says:
Judge, therefore, that as yet, We are safest in
seeking in the symptoms of this disease for guides
malady, it is very often found that its attacks are
preceded by laXity of the bowels corresponding to
ordinary diarrhna the stools not being white nor
rice.wster in character. We are not warranted in
epidemic prevalence OF this pestilence, perhaps a
large part of the population are thus troubled
though many of them take no medicine, they es.
cape any serious illness. This kind Of diarrhaa
the French have named cholerine: but inasmuch
:as DR.. Farr has applied this word as a term for
the Zymotlc cause of cholera, it is less likely to
cause confusion IL we confne ourselves to the uee
Of the old rame diarrhGa for this condition. The
Indications for it's treatment are simply to use
When, however, the discharges assume the rice
water form, or are white and copious, We are war
Tanted in concluding that cholera is present: DR..
Drake, in one OF his letters to the public in the
early part of 1849, very emphaticaily declared
that when this character of stools appears, it is
just as sure that cholera is present as that your
house is on fire when yet only few shingles
are burning. Yet tho course taken by many reg
ular phgsi clans in this city to consider 9TH
ing as cholera that did not run through all the
stages of the disease, including col lapse and
often oven death. When a city ordinance re-
quired statement for the public from each prac.
titloner, OF the number treated and the results,
one eBtlmable and excellent physician. holding tho
views to which I have referred reported four
cases and four deaths So strong was the dispo.
sltlon among regular physicians to attach odium
to any report Of success at that time, that de-
cline making any return concerning my own cases.
Rlce-water diarrhGa, or diarrL9a presenting
copious whitIsh stools, appearing when cholera
as sufficiently evincng tho presence of the
maiady, 1t ls our duty to acquiesce in this con-
clusion.
These discharge, manifest the absence of bile.
and that we need something that will cause this
secretion to flow into the intestnes, and for this
purpose no agent is so powerful as calomel. And
diarrhea attended with whtish discharges, and
particularly in the case of young children having
this kind OF evaouations, we are very slow and un-
certain in arriving at success, except when we
combine limited amount Of this agent with our
other means.
Another indication is to control the diarrhea by
the ca1ome1.
Pursuing our Investigations, we find that an
essential feature of the disease is the less
rapid failure Of the capillary circulation, and to
counteraot this tendency no medicines are go
effective as piperine and capsicum. They deter
mine more to the surface than any other stimu-
lants that have not otherwise q mischievous ac-
ton in the condition Of a cholera patient 30 &C.
tive are they, that well person taking q full
dose OF either is hot all over, often in few min
utes.
As the attack advances vomiting, intense
thirst and suppression of urine occur, accompa.
MED with violent cramps in the limbs; and if the
n nnlr In nnf l4l oon. \ L.
low.
Such is the general description of the disease,
but the cases considered individually very often
present minor difficulties which require attention
almost as much as the graver symptoms
TREATMENT
NY course upon meeting with case Of Asiatic
cholera OF the ordinary form was to administer
something am uniting to the following, viz Gallo.
MEL ten Rrain-; gum kii.,, twenty grains; pipe
Tine, ten grains; prepared chalk, one draohm.
Mix and divide into ten parts. One of these pow
ders to be given every ten minutes even only
every three hours, according to the condition OF
tho patient
Instead of this formula, fre oueptly used the
following, viz: Blue macs, one scruple; ,annin,
two scruples; piperine, one soruplo. Mix and
mako into twenty pills. Ono Of these to be taken
or three hours.
For the vomiting ordered mustard poultices
over the stomach, and when this did not suffice !
use, viz: Creosote, half drop; chloroform, from
half fluid drachm to fluid drachm; simple syrup,
% haIf & fluid ounce; psppermint water, one and a
be given every ten or twenty minutes while the
vomiting continued.
notwithstanding the immense thirst, forbade
the use Of water, except in tablespoonful mea-
sures sparingly supplied, having found that in
larger quantities 1t was Immediately vomited. !
however allowed small pieces Of ice to be kept in
the mouth, and gaYe water literally after the
vomiting had ceased.
AS to the mei curry in the foregoing prescrip-
tions, discontinued its use soon as the stools
were darkened in color, or the diarrhea was ar
rested. My observations led me to conclude that
the further administration Of mercury tended to