The St. Louis Republic., 1904-03-27
In None of the Gases Treated
Was There a Semblance of
Crisis, Which Usually Is
Most Dangerous.
FATALITY IN NO INSTANCE.
In Peculiar Treatment No Atten-
ton Is Paid to Pulse, but Ac-
ton of Heart Is of Great
est Importance.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York, March 26.-Doctor Henry
.Altshurs article in the current issue OF
tie Medical Record on 'Todide OF Potas-
SUM as a Specific in Lobar Pneumonia -
has created no end of discussion in medi-
cal circles. Doctor Altshul tells Of per-
sonal observations in sixty-two cases. none
Of which terminated fatally.
'1odide OF potassium said Doctor Alt
shul. lis one of the most readily absorb
able, and perhaps the most diffusible,
drug we have"
He then dilates upon the experimental
dons Of other physicians who have been
working with him, and, continuing, says:
In none of the cases was there the
least semblance OF a crisis. the invariable
termination being by lysis This applies
to both temperature and general condition
OF the patient. This gradual change is
remarkable, as usually about 80 per cent
of the cases terminate by crisis.
The temperature, even in cases OF api-
cal pneumonia, was never very high.
rarely exceeding 1Os degrees, never above
l4. when treatment was commenced early
in the disease"
As to the method Of treatment, DR.. Alt
shul says:
The following plan. with but trifing
ana immaterial notifications. is the one
which have pursued in all cases:
"On the estimate Of a diagnosis the pa
tient Immediately receives an initial dose
of at least ten to fifteen grains Of the
iodide potassium, which dose Is Increased
by five or ten grains, according to the
severity Of the case, every two or three
hours. day and night. and this is continued
throughout the whole course of the dis
ease, until defervescence is well estab-
lshed.
However soft the pulse may become
the dose is kept up, irrespective of the
quantity which the patient is taking, the
guide in our dosage being the regularity
of the heart, as determined not by the
pulse alone, as this may be irregular
with regular acting heart, but by aus
cultation of the heart itself and the
character Of the heart sounds. particu-
larry of the second pulomic sound; If this
be clear and distinct, we are accomplish
ing what we desire. The left ventricle will
take care Of itself in the vast majority
or cases, If we look after the right heart
Should there be any irregularity of the
heart itself. which 1 have rarely found to
be the case when treatment was COM
menced early in the disease, strychnine is
given in doses of LEO to 1.40 Of a grain ev-
cry four or six hours. until the heart be-
comes regular, being found sufficient to
control the irregularity.
THE iodide was prescribed in a 80 per
cent solution. and was administered in
milk, thus combining medication with
nourishment and necessitating less fire.
ouent disturbance OF the patient In this
manner have, in large number of cases,
given from 1000 to 1,5O0 grains per day; in
one case as high as 1.s0O grains. Doctor H
7. Prentiss Of Holyohe. Mass, reported to
me case in which he gave 5000 grains
daily for about four days and another
patient, child. to whom he gave 2.1Oo
grains daily for two days. with absolutely
signs of intolerance, and with recovery
m the disease In both cases.