A letter to the president and fellows of the Royal College of Physicians, in relation to the evidence, cited in their late report, on the treatment of epidemic cholera / by Joseph Ayre.

  • Ayre, Joseph, 1781-1860.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to the president and fellows of the Royal College of Physicians, in relation to the evidence, cited in their late report, on the treatment of epidemic cholera / by Joseph Ayre. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    20/82 (page 14)
    pulse became perceptible, reaction was set up, the mercurials were discontinued, symptoms of improve¬ ment progressed, and at the end of twelve days the patient was convalescent.” Third.—“ Twelve days after admission to the hospital under continued fever, symptoms of cholera appeared. Three grains of calomel every fifteen minutes : took ten doses ; sinapisms to the body. Brandy and soda- water were given. Dejections became coloured with bile. In thirty-six hours the purging had ceased, and on the third day febrile reaction commenced. A minute quantity of blood was drawn, followed by dry cupping. The patient became slowly convalescent.” Fourth.—-“Admitted with the usual symptoms of cholera. Saline treatment before mentioned. Calomel three grains every hour: after ten doses the vomit- ting and purging ceased, the last motion being of a dark, bilious hue; slight febrile reaction followed. During the next two days quickly became convalescent. At this time the epidemic was becoming milder.” Upon the foregoing cases, I need scarcely repeat the remark that the treatment of the four fatal cases is utterly different from that which I pursue; and the four which recovered resembled it in calomel having been given, but differed in the material point of the calomel not having been persevered in continuously until the symptoms of collapse were removed, and also in the exhibition of stimulants, which, with the limited use of the calomel, led on to the consecutive fever. In the second case of the recovered patients, mercu¬ rial inunction was employed, on the assumption that