Sanitary measures and their results : being a sequel to "The history of cholera in Exeter in 1832," to which is now added a short account of its occurance in 1849 / by Thomas Shapter, M.D.

  • Shapter, Thomas.
Date:
1866
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sanitary measures and their results : being a sequel to "The history of cholera in Exeter in 1832," to which is now added a short account of its occurance in 1849 / by Thomas Shapter, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    but at the same time to exert a specific control over the cramps. The combinatiou of mercury and opium tends on the first ingress of the disease, i.e. when there are serous discharges, with a small pulse, but before what may be termed a decided state of collapse is established, to arrest the discharges, warm the bowels, check cramps, and to free the internal organs from the atony that is impending, as shewn by a recurrence of pulse, and general warmth, and the discharge of organic secretions in conjunction with the serous dis- charges. After collapse is fully established the combination appears to avert death more successfully than mercury by jitself; nevertheless, if its employment be too long persevered jin, the collapse, though recovered from, is likely to pass into consecutive fever.* Opium without mercury, in the early stages, and before °ftii^t collapse was fully estabhshed, had a notable effect in pre- ^^^'^'^^^ venting the development of the disease, immediately allaying the internal depression, crampy feeling of legs, and checking the alvine discharges. It would also appear to have the power * Of the direct and immediately useful effect of large doses of calomel and opium the following cases are illustrative :—F. K., female, set. 30, in collapse one hour and a-half; pulse almost imperceptihle, quick, face sunk, tongue cold, extremities and surface cold, feet and hands reddish hlue, vomiting and purging of rice water discharges, frequent and excessive cramps, no urine. Five grains of calomel, with half a grain of opium, was administered every half hour for three hours : the pulse hecame more perceptihle, and the cramps less ; this treatment was followed up by smaller doses, and the use of the hot air bath and frictions. The result was a speedy amelioration of her symptoms, and an entire recovery from collapse in eleven hours, i.e. twelve hours and a half from the commencement: there was no consecutive fever. H. S., male, set. 70, collapse two hours ; no pulse, sm-face cold, extremities blue, frequent vomiting and purging of rice water, cramps violent. Twenty grains of calomel was immediately given, feUowed up by smaller doses; he also di-ank cold water freely. After some hom-s, the alvine discharges became greenish, and he slowly rallied from coUapse; he passed into a feverish state, of nine days duration, and then recovered. J. C, female, tet. 25, in whom collapse was in aU respects complete ; purgin- appeared to be arrested by the use of calomel and opium, with ammonia. She rallied from collapse, and recovered after a week of congestive fever. J. P., female, ait. 60, being in a complete state of collapse for tha-ee houi-s, took large and continued doses of calomel and opium. Recovered in the course of twelve hours, and without any consecutive fever.