The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-03-14
Sulphite of Soda as Remedy for Small
pOX
From the Scientific Americana

which desires his name to be suppressed,
as he does not wish to detract from the
force of his statements by creating an
impression that he is putting nostrum
from personal motives Though per-
sonally unknown to lis, we have formed
a high opinion of the candor of this
writer, both from the communication
Itself and the private letter that accom-
panied it.
The statements made are in the high
est degree remarkable. Small pox has
SO long been considered an incurable
disease, not to be arrested by any hu-
man means when once its virus has en-
tered the circulation of those unprotect-
ed by vaccination or previous attacks
of the same complaint, that the an
nouncement of even single successful
cure will arrest public attention at
once.
The remedy named, sulphite of soda,
has been growing in favor for some
time as an antidote for blood poisons,
which act seemingly like ferments; and
we have ourselves witnessed apparently
happy effects produced by its use in
complaints supposed to arise from such
poisons. Its value in this class of dis
eases has been so far demonstrated that
it has been made an officinal remedy.
If we are to credit the statements of
our correspondent, most astonishing
effect upon the small pox poison was
produced by something, which, if it was
not the sodG sulphis, ought to be most
earnestly sought. We are not aware
that any spontaneous resolution of this
terrible disease ever has taken place, of
character that could be mistaken for the
cure ascribed to the action of the drug
under consideration. The drug produces
in proper doses no effects to be feared,
and therefore can be made the subject of
experiment without danger to patients.
Its merits, therefore,as a small pox rem
edy ought to be at once thoroughly
tested, and if it should be found that the
cure alluded to was probably an effect of
the crude petroleum employed to an
noint the body, or the result of cause
unknown, the fact that cure is alleged
should stimulate investigation into the
real cause. 1t is, we believe, very rare
that an unfavorable prognosis, based
upon the acuteness of pain in the head
and back in attacks of small pox, fails
to be verified. In the particular case
described, these bad symptoms were
strongly marked, yet the patient, the
next day after the character of the COM
plaint was deemed established by the
eruption, was convalascent, and in a few
days recovered without the formation of
o single pustule.
There is, of course, the possibility that
there was a mistake in diagnosis, and
that the disease was not really small
pox, yet this seems rather improbable.
The hope that a cure, for such a scourge
as small pox, may be discovered prompts
us to call particular attention to the
letter of our correspondent and we
most sincerely wish that the supposed
efficacy of this simple. remedy may be
demonstrated to be a verify.
REMEDY FOR SMALL PoX, BY ONE WHO
HAS TRIED IT.
The following was written several
months ago, but was not forwarded, as
the press has been teeming with small
pox cures" which are generally so evi-
IDENTIFY worthless that hesitated put
ting my little communication among the
prescriptions; feeling almost sure it
would meet with no more attention
than is accorded to the many, placed
daily before the prudently incredufous
reader.
But l find it impossible to resist the
conviction on my part that to withhold
any longer from the public my know
ledge of a remedy-or mode of treat
monitor variola and its notifications,
would be criminal, as well as weak, in
view of my confidence as to a successful
result.
Some years ago had case of vario-
loid, in my family, contracted from ac-
tual contagion, but not from strictly
immediate contact with variola. The
patient, my daughter, child nine years
old, carried muff to church, the day
after her mother had loaned it for a
short time to young lady friend in the
cars. This lady had Just recovered, ap-
parently entirely, from small pox con-
turned home from the army convalescent,
but during the period of active desqua-
nation, after a recent and almost fatal
attack of small pox.
Precisely ten days after my daughter
carried tho muff, on the eve of the tenth
day, she was quite i'll from a complica-
ton of symptoms. The next morning l
noticed a number of spots on her skin,
alarmingly suggestive of variola. Not
having had any experience of such a
case l consulted friend, physician,
who at once pronounced her disorder
varioloid. He thought, too, that it
would prove a severe case, as the symp-
toms, namely, fever, back ache, head
ache, nausea, and the general appear
ance of the eruption, warranted such a
diagnosis.
l took the case pretty much into my
own hands, as had at once resolved to
pursue line of treatment entirely diff
ferent from that usually employed in
such cases. Some time in the year 1861
read in a number of the Scientific
american (of that year,, that new rem
edy, discovered by a French chemist,
namely, sOde sulphice, was attracting
great attention in certain quarters from
It's success in the treatment of ulcera-
ton, ETC., and more particularly by its
having cured entirely several well-at-
tested cases Of hydrophobia. Its many
valuable properties were fully discussed
verified, and freely endorsed by the
French College of Surgeons, and were
in substance what is now given in am
pie detail in the 4" United States Dispen-
satory," 1871, thirteenth editorial article
=" Sod@ sulphis" -...... ...
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