Precautionary hints to persons residing in places suffering or likely to suffer from cholera; with concise directions for the treatment of those threatened with or actually attacked by the disease in situations where medical advice cannot be immediately obtained.

  • Great Britain. Central Board of Health.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Precautionary hints to persons residing in places suffering or likely to suffer from cholera; with concise directions for the treatment of those threatened with or actually attacked by the disease in situations where medical advice cannot be immediately obtained. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    7. When there are Cramps, a Desert-spoonful or Two of the Liniment No. 6. should be assiduously rubbed on the Part affected. 8. If there be Nausea or Sickness, without acute Pain at the Pit of the Stomach, give an Emetic of Twenty-five or Thirty Grains of Ipecacuanha in Half a Pint of warm Water. 9. When Giddiness and Pain at the Pit of the Stomach are present, bleed as above, and give a Tea-spoonful of the Aperient Powder No. 4. 10. Let the Diet in all these premonitory Stages consist of light farinaceous Preparations : Sago, Tapioca, Panada ; Chicken Broth and tepid Drinks to promote Perspiration. 11. Should Debility, with Chills and Sweats, remain, give Two Grains of Sulphate of Quinine Three Times a Day for Two or Three Days. This Medicine will often be found to check the Relaxation of the Bowels. First Stage of the Attack—Treatment. 12. When the Motions have lost the Appearance of faeculent Matter, and have put on that of Rice Water or Chicken Broth, with vomiting of similar Liquids, Spasms, intense Thirst, irregular, slow, and weak Pulse, give an Emetic of Half a Pint of a Solution of common Salt, as strong as it can be made, with a Tea-spoonful of Mustard Powder. Place a Mustard Poultice, No. 7* over the whole Stomach, Belly, and Front of the Short Ribs, having previously rubbed the Parts with the Liniment. Give One of the Pills No. 1. every alternate Half-hour, and in the Intervals Two Table-spoonsfull of weak Brandy or Whisky and Water ; cold if preferred. Let the Patient drink cold Water or iced Water if it can be had, allowing no more than Two or Three Table-spoonfuls at a Time, or Bits of Ice the Size of a Nut may be given to be swallowed whole, to allay the burning Sensation at the Pit of the Stomach. Let Bags or Stockings filled with heated Bran or Sand be placed along the Patient’s Spine or Sides, and Feet Warmers applied to his Feet. Let him be kept still, if possible, wrapt in warm Blankets, but not oppressed with Heat or Coverings, particularly over the Chest and Neck. Second Stage of the Attack. 18. If, notwithstanding these Measures, the Patient should appear to be sinking, the Pulse becoming weaker, the Skin colder, the breathing more laborious, the Individual appearing less anxious about his own Situation, then, in addition to the steady Application of the Measures already recommended, let an Injection be thrown up the Rectum, consisting of Two or Three Pints of Water, as warm as the Hand can conveniently bear, with a small Wine- glassful of Brandy or Whisky, to be repeated, if thought necessary, at Intervals of an Hour. Third Stage. 14. When the Pulse at the WTrist has ceased, or become almost imper- ceptible, with Coldness of the Extremities, and perhaps Blueness of the Surface, particularly of the Lips, Hands, and Feet; irregular breathing, Loss of Voice, Suppression of Urine, ghastly Countenance, without Delirium: although under these awful Circumstances there is but little Room for Hope, our Exertions should not cease. 15. At this Stage of the Attack the vomiting and purging will generally have ceased, or at least be much diminished ; the Belly will be drawn in, and Pain, sinking, and death-like Oppression will be felt about the Heart.