December,
CORRESPONDENCE.
1883.]
THE CAUSATION AND TREATMENT OF CHOLERA. To the Editor
"
Indian Medical Gazette
Dear Sir,?I beg to enclose you a copy of a letter I have sent to Dr. Koch on cholera. If you think it suggestive of truth, and on a philosophical method, and likely to put others on a method of prevention, perhaps you will give it insertion in the Indian Mcdical Gazette. I have been for many years advocating the views, as expressed When first I wrote, it was a disgrace to use in the enclosed. " God worketh the word evolution, which really means, that " that a and second causes" (Bacon); continuity" exists in by the organic World, as much as in the inorganic. European method is just rising to perceive this great truth : method has been over-ridden and crushed by the European " " imposed catastrophetic" method, which the sectaries have A brighter time is coming, when our knowledge, on Nature." and love, and methods, shall be wider and freer. I hope that my suggestion on cholera is on a "true method." I have, of late years, seen many statements, that the medical mind is coming toward views which I published twenty years ago,?most imperfect as they were in comparison with what I had wished. I am, &c., William H. Pearse, m.d, Edinb.
Place, Citadel Road, Plymouth, Oct. 29, i?
i, Alfred
(Copy.) Sir,?I must ask you to pardon a stranger from intruding on you, and occupying your valuable time?devoted to great researches. "j But for many years past I have had experience with cholera, and have been writing to the effect, that,? 1. Cholera is not a specific disease. 2. That cholera has gradations of form with fevers, diarrhoeas and other diseases : e. g., I have seen bronchitis with a choleraic aspect; in other words, 3. " Continuity" exists, in what to the vulgar seem, super- ficially and erroneously, " distinct diseases." 4. Further, that what we call the disease?cholera?are but ulterior results of antecedent nerve and molecular changes in cerebrO-spinaband ganglionic, &c., structure and mode. 5. Further?generally? that epidemics,?say of cholera,? and of other types?"evolve" on "change" of vito-physical environment: such "change" being a "shock" or altered en- tirety of the accustomed habituated existences, on which the then prevailing, rate, or state of life, and vital action, depend. 6. Thus epidemics of so-called different diseases, have a greater common form, than their minor differences. 7. Further, cholera has been known to evolve on such "changes" or " shocks" as a cold wind, a fatigue, a dose of Epsom salts, &c., &c. 8. Further, cholera &c., have often ceased in regiments, ships, &c., on changing their place or latitude, even for short dis- tances ; so susceptible is the body to deviations, both out of the normal rates into diseased rates; and so strong is the natur- al law to recur to normal conservative healthy rates or states : parallel, in fact5 to the strong tendency which " varieties" and ?' monstrosities'' have to disappear, and the prevailing form to re- appear, in the life-history of species and genera in the vegetable and animal worlds. 9. The " Specific" thus disappears, and a greater general law or form appears. 10. On these grounds, for many years past, I have been ur- ging the Indian Government to adopt the method?should cholera appear in ajail, regiment, ship, &c.,?of hypodermically injecting a solution of quinine, or of quinine and arsenic, into all those not affected. 11. But my suggestion has not found favour, because teta- nus is so liable to occur, in India, after slight wounds. 12. On the other hand, there is vast evidence that quinine, &c., can be hypodermically injected in India, with safety. 13. With great respect, I submit my suggestion to you ;?it is, to injectjwith a solution'of quinine and arsenic those not affect- ed?thus seeking to restore the mode of "energy," whose natur- al oscillations, at times, by the inherent laws of vital evolution, are in a' state of unstable equilibrium, and lessened power for sustaiiiirig "energy,"?allowing the natural evolution or appear-
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ance of deviations of vital process,--vis., what we call epi- demics, &c, 14. The best known solution is that so much used by Mr. T. B. Scriven, late of Lahore, who says? (Lancet, December 31, 1881; " I have had no case of tetanus since I began to use the injection in 1872." 15, Mr. Scriven's formula is? Sulphate of quinine g 5? Ta'taric acid Distilled water to ^iij Fifteen minims of this contain five grains of quinine- " Inject 15 to 20 minims of this solution in an adult." Alfred Place, Citadel Road, Plymouth, October 29th, 1883. I have, &c., William H. Pearse, m.d., Edin., Scnr. Physician, Plymouth, Public Dispensary, Dr. Koch, Chief of the Commission on Cholera, of H. I. M. The Emperor of Germany, Calcutta.