THE TREATMENT OF CHOLERA BY
STRYCHNINE. By Surgeon-Lieut.-Colonel JOSHUA
DUKE,
i.m.s.
Ihe subcutaneous use or strychnia in the treatment of cholera, advocated by Dr. Ffrench-
Mullen, has proved efficacious in several cases lately treated by me. My own way of carrying out the treatment is briefly as follows, each case requiring modifications according to its merits. A pill consisting of?Calomel gr. ii, Ext. cannabis indica gr. ^ was administered aud re-
peated
every
second
or
third hour for three
doses.
pill be vomited, pure calomel was the tongue. For adults, liq. strychnia} P. B. m.v diluted with m.v of water, was then injected into each arm; after four or six hours'interval m.v were again injected, and repeated up to m. xx or m. xxv in 24 hours. The success of the treatment was known by the return of the pulse, frequently in 12 hours, and of the voice. During the next 24 hours 10 to 15 minims of liq. strychniai were generally used; and repeated during the succeeding 24 hours if necessShould the
placed
011
ary. To promote
urinary secretion,
say after 18 to
hours, pilocarpine gr. J-th was injected; its effect, as mentioned by Dr. Ffrench-Mullen, being marvellous and rapid. To check hiccough, nausea, and sickness, antipyrine 5 grains, one or two doses acted well. Fluids were freely allowed and good plain 24
soup. If severe cramps were very urgent as a symptom on admission, calomel was given as directed, and chloral hydrate gr. xii was subcutaneously injected (gr. ii in water m. x) into each limb ; the strychnia being used after au interval with good results.
Oct.
1892.]
DAVIDSON ON NON-UNION IN A FACTURED CLAVICLE.
With the return of thepiilse, recovery may be looked for hopefully; and, once urine is passed, a patient should recover. But great care is required in the after-treatment. The stools may remain watery, but the reappearance of bile shows that the calomel has acted. The doses of calomel are small, and of course larger quantities may be used. This drug keeps going the secretion of bile, and disinfects the intestinal canal; while the Indian hemp probably relieves the spasm of the blood vessels. The subcutaneous treatment of cholera, whatever drug be used, commends itself, in a disease, where, as a rule, the stomach is intolerant of drugs, calomel being the exception. I venture to record this brief note in support a new treatment, because, after twenty years' experience, it has proved more successful than any other used at my hands. of
299
STRYCHNINE. By Surgeon-Lieut.-Colonel JOSHUA
DUKE,
i.m.s.
Ihe subcutaneous use or strychnia in the treatment of cholera, advocated by Dr. Ffrench-
Mullen, has proved efficacious in several cases lately treated by me. My own way of carrying out the treatment is briefly as follows, each case requiring modifications according to its merits. A pill consisting of?Calomel gr. ii, Ext. cannabis indica gr. ^ was administered aud re-
peated
every
second
or
third hour for three
doses.
pill be vomited, pure calomel was the tongue. For adults, liq. strychnia} P. B. m.v diluted with m.v of water, was then injected into each arm; after four or six hours'interval m.v were again injected, and repeated up to m. xx or m. xxv in 24 hours. The success of the treatment was known by the return of the pulse, frequently in 12 hours, and of the voice. During the next 24 hours 10 to 15 minims of liq. strychniai were generally used; and repeated during the succeeding 24 hours if necessShould the
placed
011
ary. To promote
urinary secretion,
say after 18 to
hours, pilocarpine gr. J-th was injected; its effect, as mentioned by Dr. Ffrench-Mullen, being marvellous and rapid. To check hiccough, nausea, and sickness, antipyrine 5 grains, one or two doses acted well. Fluids were freely allowed and good plain 24
soup. If severe cramps were very urgent as a symptom on admission, calomel was given as directed, and chloral hydrate gr. xii was subcutaneously injected (gr. ii in water m. x) into each limb ; the strychnia being used after au interval with good results.
Oct.
1892.]
DAVIDSON ON NON-UNION IN A FACTURED CLAVICLE.
With the return of thepiilse, recovery may be looked for hopefully; and, once urine is passed, a patient should recover. But great care is required in the after-treatment. The stools may remain watery, but the reappearance of bile shows that the calomel has acted. The doses of calomel are small, and of course larger quantities may be used. This drug keeps going the secretion of bile, and disinfects the intestinal canal; while the Indian hemp probably relieves the spasm of the blood vessels. The subcutaneous treatment of cholera, whatever drug be used, commends itself, in a disease, where, as a rule, the stomach is intolerant of drugs, calomel being the exception. I venture to record this brief note in support a new treatment, because, after twenty years' experience, it has proved more successful than any other used at my hands. of
299
