Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-19
Treatment OF ChoIorA.

A correspondent writes from this city
to the San Francisco Alta California as
follows
A new treatment OF cholerh has been
developed here during the providence Of
that dreaded disease, which, from the
wonderful success attending IL deserves
the careful attention OF your medical
practitioners. The author Of the system
Is DR.. j. Joseph Williams, Professor Of
Physiology in the Medical Department.
Of the Cumberland University, located
here. All efforts TO excite the hillary
secretions by means Of Alternative med
icines, such as mercury IN its various
forms, aloes, rhuharb. salincs, oils, tnr-
pentine aud other remedies in that liue,
are discarded. No specific compounded
of camphor, pepper, lAudauum, chloro-
form, rhubarb or any Of them, TO stop
purging. vomiting or cramps, is used.
lie acts under the belief that the system
is 10 violent state Of revolution, and
that the stomach is totally and entirely
incapable of absorbing into the circula
ton the medicines given TO counteraet
the disease; hence they remain inert
and of no value as remedial agents.
And having ascertail ned. by practice
in hundreds OF cases, that il purg-
ing and vomiting can be arrested
aud the patient held still and constantly
supplied with appropriate ailments and
gentle stimulation, that nature will come
to the rescue within forty-eight hours,
and restore the circulation, aud the pa
tent will rally and in few days be at
work. Proceeding under this theory,
our doctor mi ects his main remedies di.
rectly into the circulation by means OF
the hypodermic syringe. Upon reach
ing a case of cholera, the first thing is to
administer dose of morphine, say one
eighth "a Of grain under the skin
the quantity OF morphine to be given to
be regulated by the brain force of the
patient; if feeble, the dose must be much
smaller, and repeated at short intervals.
Following the morphine should come
quinine, from three to five grains, under
the skin also--the quantity TO be deter
mined by the strength and condition OF
the sufferer, which must also regulate
the intervals. To check the immoderate
cold sweat, inject the ninetieth (l'90) or
or hundre1th (l-lO0) part OF grain of
atropine (alkoloid of belladonna). | have
mentioned the doses as though given
separately, which is unnecessary, as
skillful operator with the hypoder-
mic syringe will readily administer all
the medicines at one dose. As soon
as the medicines are given, brandy and
pure milk is ordered at every thirty min
utes the usual dose is an ounce of each
at first, to be varied as the condition of
the patient requires. If great prostra-
ton exists, the quantity of spirit should
be greatly increased, and vice versa.
This is denominated nourishing stimu-
lation. Before each dose of brandy
and milk the patient must take q tea
spoonful or little less Of what our prac-
toner calls artificial gastric juice, which
is composed of the following ingredients:
dilute muriatic acid, two and one-half
drachms; sacharated pepsin, two and
one-half drachms; water, two and one
half ounces. Or, in place of the
Juice" take ten grains of pepsin. In
some cases, when the stomach is very
feeble, DR.. Williams begins with tea
spoonful of milk and few grains OF
pepsin, which is repeated at intervals OF
from ten to twenty minutes, until the
stomach grows quiet and improves in
energy. Mustard, hot water in bottles
near the person, and friction, are regard
ed as excellent adjuvants, but nothing
more. Morphine, under the skin, in
small and frequent doses, is the sheet
anchor of the treatment | forgot to
mention that the treatment is not
adapted to infants; why, l don't know,
but the doctors will.