Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-05
CHOLERA PRECAUTIONS.
Lactic Acid Recommended for Treatment
in First Stages.

Lactic Acid Recommended for Treatment
in First Stages.
European edition N. Y HeraldJ
Although it is not always possible to find
the direct cause of an epidemic of cholera,
we are none the less quite certain about the
influence of drinking water as an agent of
its propagation, ana we know that, when
defled, either directly, by the ref
use coming from patients suffer-
ing from contagious diseases, OF. in
directly, by the washing of linen that
has been made use of by the latter, it may
carry the germs of disease to great dis
tance. The list of epidemfcs of dysentery,
typhoid fever or cholera produced in this
way is endless, and too great care, there
fore, cannot be taken to use only the purest
water that it is possible to get for drinking
purposes. This is a precaution that ought
to be taken at any time, but particularly 80,
of course when there is an epidemic going
on, and my readers will, think, do me the
Justice to grant that in many of these arti-
cles 1 have dwelt at length on the need of
pure water for table purposes, and even Of
water that has been boiled.
1t is always well, no doubt. to preserve
ourselves from outward infection, but, since
two precautions are better than one every
effort should be made as well to prevent the
development of any cholera germs that may
succeed in gaining access to the interior of
our organism. MN. Winter and Lesage have
shown that the cholera poison in man is gen.
Grated in the intestine. and Is rendered solu-
Bile by the alkaline reaction of that medium
The inference from this is that the chief in
dication should be to acfdify the contents of
the digestive tract SO that they should be
unfit for the proliferation of the bacflli. No
substance is superior to Tactic acid for the
attafnment of this purpose.
have already spoken of Tactic acid both
as preservative from cholera and as form
of treatment for the complaint at its first
period. Ten or fifteen grammes of Tactic
acid to be taken during the "a hours can he
dissolved in a 1itre of distilled water and
sweetened or aromatiZed either with raSp-
berry, mint, lemon or orange sirup.
Some persons, in view of the cistaste felt
by many for pharmaceutical preparations
OF any kind, have conceived the idea of man
ufacturing siphonS of Seltzer water acfdihed
or else siphons OF Lemonade acidifed
to the same degree. In this way Tactic acid
would be brought within the reach of
everybody and used in the place of ordinary
seltzer water or of the various spark
ling table waters. This drink taken in small
quantities could not do any harm. 1t would
seem that the use of this artificial water
would give very practical results in all
cases where large number of persons have
to live together, as in barricks, lyceums and
prisons 1t is customary in these establish
ments, in times of great heat or of cpl
demic, to distribute fresh hygienic drinks
so that it would be rational TO try there q
form of drink which not only might be
made agreeable to the taste by various
means, but which possesses in addition real
therapeutical and prophylactic properties.
1t would also be possible in an establish
ment where the distribution of drinks Is
watched to vary the dose of Tactic acid ac-
cording TO circumstances. No more suitable
time could be found than the present to
make this experiment. which would cer-
ta1nly render service to the public health.