Remarks on the nature and treatment of cholera; being the substance of a paper laid before the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh. Addressed to the Right Honourable the Lord Provost of Edinburgh / [John Argyll Robertson].

  • Robertson, John Argyll, 1798 or 1799?-1855.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the nature and treatment of cholera; being the substance of a paper laid before the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh. Addressed to the Right Honourable the Lord Provost of Edinburgh / [John Argyll Robertson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    9 dipped in boiling water is to be immediately applied to the legs of the patient. If this be not sufficient to rouse the powers of life, the same application may be made to the chest and pit of the stomach. When the circulation and heat of the skin return, five grains of Dover’s powder may be given every third hour : the temperature of the skin must continually be watched, and kept up by means of friction, warm bottles, and bladders, or sand, salt or bran well heated and put into bags. Should a relapse take place, the same means are to be repeated. The best preventatives of the disease, are great moderation in diet, avoiding raw vegetables, fruit of every kind, and whatever has been found to disagree with the stomach ; fermented and spiritous liquors, more especially when taken in excess, are par¬ ticularly injurious, and very apt to bring on an attack of Cho¬ lera—flannel to be worn next the skin—the feet to be kept dry and warm—the bowels to be kept regular ; if medicine be ne¬ cessary for this purpose, a pill, containing three or four grains of rhubarb and one grain of ipecacuanha, may be taken once or twice a-day, as may be necessary ; or a little castor oil or magne¬ sia : the latter medicine is to be preferred whenever there is any heartburn or acidity of stomach present. If there be pain and uneasiness at the pit of the stomach, more especially if it be increased by pressure, a little of the following ointment should be rubbed over the stomach three times a-day, to bring out an eruption :—Tartar emetic, two drachms—hogslard, one ounce, mixed well together. The above ointment will not only act as a preventative, but should the disease appear, will render its pro¬ gress milder.