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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    of arresting the disease after collapse is partially established,* Nevertheless, after collapse was fully established, its power of controlling the rice-water evacuations and vomitings did not appear very considerable ; and though it certainly exercised a beneficial effect in allaying cramps of the extremities and bowels, if the heart or chest were their seat, it acted injuriously by increasing the oppression of these organs. In those cases which were marked by an active restlessness, with a bright eye and anxious countenance, the power of opium in producing sleep rapidly, or even eventually, bore but little relation to the quantity taken as indicated by its effects under ordinary circumstances; but if the disease assumed a comatose form, this state was immediately and obviously in- creased by its use. The following is a brief summary of the use of mercury and opium as deduced from the preceding observations. Mercury proved a valuable medicine, and useful in probably a' cases of impending or confirmed collapse by counteracting th tendency to suppressed functional power in the organs specially affected in this disease ; that its use is more particularly called for in those cases where, collapse being confirmed, the purgings and vomitings are neither frequent nor copious; that it does not directly increase the amount or frequency of rice-water purging, but qualifies their character by inducing, whether directly or indirectly, functional action in the organs of organic life ; that, by itself and uncombined, its power of restoring the functions of these organs is not fully developed, nor fully equal to controlling collapse and obviating subsequent congestion; that as its usefulness ajDpears to be indicated by the effect it produces upon organic function, and as its power of doing this is not always by itself sufiiciently prompt, other remedies to this end appear useful in combination with it. It is worthy of remark, as proving the efficacy of mercury * The foUowing case is illustrative of the eflfect of opium in the earlier stage of the disease: S. D., female, ist. 35, collapse thi-oo hours, smaE, almost imperceptible pulse, cold and blue extremities, frequent rice water vomiting and purging, partial suppression of urine. Took opium fi-eely, in combination with acetate of lead, and v.-ith immediate relief. Recovery, though gradual, was ostablished without fever.