PROPHYLAXIS IN PERIODIC FEVERS. TO THE EDITOR
OF
"
THE
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
Sir,?In consequence of the severity of fever at Peshawur daring the latter part of 1870, I was led to try the comparative
value of prophylactics in 1871. The latter has been so much healthier a year that the experiment loses much of its interest : but if the effect is evident in a healthy season, it is reasonable to believe that it would be no less so in a feverish season. Men were occasionally absent on commands, escort parties, and district guards, which in some measure vitiates the result, for several men thus temporarily absent gave admissions shortly after return. The agents used were sulphate of quinine gr. ij, sulphate of quinidine gr. ij, liq. arsenic. 111 2, and infusion of chiretta ?j, administered every morning from 15th September to 11th December,?88 days. I tried quinidine in consequence of a paper on its use in the Indian Medical Gazette, 1871, by Dr. Hamilton, 11.A.
?a a
*3 U &
03
e
s a
g.Sis ? Arsenic
Quini ne Quioidiue Cheyretta Averages
m
-3
=3
'S
a
138 143 49 91
"ti ?
lal Isis 3 ca
a
g
"S ?
tc
o
170 223 81 389
a z .S3 B ,q
.? a
s
o
a
>
ft
m
5 -3
*
Q
22-1 31-4 31-7 60-6
518 4.9 4'9 6-82
1-23 1*55 1-7 413
37*2
5-52
215
The above figures are too small to prove conclusive : but they appear to establish a presumption that arsenic,, quinine and quinidine are useful as prophylactics against malarial fevers," and shorten the duration of their attack, when contracted. In the month of October a detachment of 89 men was stationed at Fort Michni, an outpost about 14 miles from Peshawar, and they gave, relatively, four admissions to one at head-quarters in that month ; and Michni is generally healthier than Peshawur. This favours the usefulness of prophylactics. The small price of arsenic and of quinidine points them out as worthy of a further trial on a more extended scale. For instance, if supplied by Government to three out of the six native regiments in the garrison and regularly issued during the unhealthy season of the year, (arsenic to one half the regiment and quinidine to the other, these drugs being, if necessary, alternated) a fair test would be afforded of their utility.?I am, &c., Kenneth M. Downie, M. B.f Pesha-svtjr, 31 st January, 1872. 3Qth Regiment JV. I. J
OF
"
THE
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
Sir,?In consequence of the severity of fever at Peshawur daring the latter part of 1870, I was led to try the comparative
value of prophylactics in 1871. The latter has been so much healthier a year that the experiment loses much of its interest : but if the effect is evident in a healthy season, it is reasonable to believe that it would be no less so in a feverish season. Men were occasionally absent on commands, escort parties, and district guards, which in some measure vitiates the result, for several men thus temporarily absent gave admissions shortly after return. The agents used were sulphate of quinine gr. ij, sulphate of quinidine gr. ij, liq. arsenic. 111 2, and infusion of chiretta ?j, administered every morning from 15th September to 11th December,?88 days. I tried quinidine in consequence of a paper on its use in the Indian Medical Gazette, 1871, by Dr. Hamilton, 11.A.
?a a
*3 U &
03
e
s a
g.Sis ? Arsenic
Quini ne Quioidiue Cheyretta Averages
m
-3
=3
'S
a
138 143 49 91
"ti ?
lal Isis 3 ca
a
g
"S ?
tc
o
170 223 81 389
a z .S3 B ,q
.? a
s
o
a
>
ft
m
5 -3
*
Q
22-1 31-4 31-7 60-6
518 4.9 4'9 6-82
1-23 1*55 1-7 413
37*2
5-52
215
The above figures are too small to prove conclusive : but they appear to establish a presumption that arsenic,, quinine and quinidine are useful as prophylactics against malarial fevers," and shorten the duration of their attack, when contracted. In the month of October a detachment of 89 men was stationed at Fort Michni, an outpost about 14 miles from Peshawar, and they gave, relatively, four admissions to one at head-quarters in that month ; and Michni is generally healthier than Peshawur. This favours the usefulness of prophylactics. The small price of arsenic and of quinidine points them out as worthy of a further trial on a more extended scale. For instance, if supplied by Government to three out of the six native regiments in the garrison and regularly issued during the unhealthy season of the year, (arsenic to one half the regiment and quinidine to the other, these drugs being, if necessary, alternated) a fair test would be afforded of their utility.?I am, &c., Kenneth M. Downie, M. B.f Pesha-svtjr, 31 st January, 1872. 3Qth Regiment JV. I. J
