On the use of common salt in the treatment of intermittent fever / by Joseph C. Hutchison.

  • Hutchison, Joseph C. (Joseph Chrisman), 1822-1887.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the use of common salt in the treatment of intermittent fever / by Joseph C. Hutchison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    We may very justly infer from the history of the last three patients, that there was considerable visceral derange- ment and impairment.of the general health. The cases had proved exceedingly rebellious to the ordinary remedies, and even when under the potent influence of sulph. quinia, the paroxysms often persisted for several days seriatim. The strongly marked. I regret that the permanency of the cure antiperiodic effects of the chloride here was certainly very was not reported to me. Case 10.—A negro girl belonging to Mr. C., ast. 15, prescribed for August 5th. She had intermittent fever last autumn, and the ensuing spring, but has been free from it for several months, until to-day. Her general health is moderately good. As it was uncertain what type the disease would assume, she was ordered chi. sodii 3vj dissolved in mucilage, to be taken in divided doses at suitable intervals, before the hour for the chill to-morrow, anticipating it might prove to be of the quotidian type. The paroxysm returned on the next day, notwithstanding the treatment, and for two consecutive days without any obvious amelioration. Mrs. C. then gave a teaspoonful of corn meal mixed with water, every two hours during the next intermission, after which the disease did not return. There was thirst, but no dis- turbance of the stomach or bowels from the chloride. Corn meal, I may remark, is a domestic remedy for ague and fever, often used by this family, and others in that neighborhood, and it is said, in most instances, to check it at once. It would seem, in the above case, to have been effica- cious. At any rate, the salt was here considered a failure. Case 11.—A negro girl belonging to Ar. S., a?t. 12, prescribed for August Gth. She has had the tertian form ot intermittent fever four or five days. Never had the disease before, although it has prevailed extensively in the family. General health good. As the paroxysm was expected in nine hours from this time, she was ordered chi. sodii, 3i, dis- solved in mucilage, every hour, until she takes six doses. On the 7th, the disease returned at the usual time, each dose of