Asiatic Cholera: A treatise on its origin, pathology, treatment, and cure — John Shaqi
Asiatic Cholera: A treatise on its origin, pathology, treatment, and cureWhitney, Elijah
History
Asiatic Cholera: A treatise on its origin, pathology, treatment, and cure
Whitney, Elijah
Cholera
The earliest record of the use of chloroform in cholera is probably
to be found in the London _Lancet_ for November, 1848, in which Dr.
Hill reports a case of its successful use by inhalation. He placed
the patient in bed, covered with warm blankets, and applied friction,
stimulant liniments, and heated bags of bran to the surface, and kept
the patient under the gentle influence of chloroform, till the more
urgent symptoms entirely subsided. At intervals brandy-and-water, and
thin arrow-root or milk was given. All other medicines were avoided.
Though the urgent symptoms returned at first, as the effects of the
chloroform passed off, they were easily controlled by the repetition
of the inhalation. By persevering in its use, reaction set in, and the
patient became convalescent.
Other cases, afterwards, were treated in the same way, with a similar
result. Some, however, required the gentle use of chloroform by
inhalation, at intervals, for twenty-four hours; after which, none
seems to have been administered. For aught that appears these cases all
recovered.
Another very interesting case is related by Mr. Brady, who observes
that an elderly lady was seized with slight diarrhoea, which, on
the following morning, had become very profuse: excessive vomiting
supervened, accompanied by spasms in the calves of the legs, fingers
and toes. Under these urgent symptoms, the usual remedy, brandy, was
administered without avail; the dejections became incessant, and the
spasms increased in intensity, presenting the features of a decided
case of malignant cholera. In this condition, the physician was called
in haste, as it was believed and affirmed the patient was dying.
In describing this case, the physician observes: "On my arrival, I
found the patient presenting all the symptoms of malignant Asiatic
cholera, in an advanced stage; the features collapsed and ghastly;
extremities and tongue cold; burning sensation in the stomach and
oesophagus; pulse rapid and scarcely perceptible; voice diminished
to a whisper; stomach exceedingly irritable, and the dejections from
the bowels presenting the characteristic rice-water appearance; and
all the voluntary muscles of the body were affected by spasm, so that
the patient actually writhed in agony." Ordered the following: Rx.
Chloroform dram j; Ol. Terebinth. ounce j; aq. Dist. dram iij. M. And
gave immediately a large tea-spoonful, in a wine-glass, of dilute
brandy; and applied sinapisms to the calves of the legs and abdominal
and thoracic surfaces. Thirst was relieved by drinking plentifully of
water nearly cold. Though the stomach was irritable, the chloroform was
retained, as well as the fluid drank after it, and was followed by no
dejection. Half an hour after, two pills were administered, composed
according to the following: Rx. Calomel gr. v; fellis. bov. inspis.
gr. x; Ft. Pil. ij. Half an hour after these were given, vomiting
ensued, but soon subsided; the diarrhoea had apparently ceased; the
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