THE TKEATMENT OF CHOLERA. TO TIIE
EDITOR OF TOE
Sir,?Will you give
"
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
space in the pages of your valuable journal to say a few words on the subject of cholera. It is not my intention to enter 011 the vexed question of its contagiousness or non-contagiousness, of its origin, proximate or remote, of its mode of development, or on the many other points in connection with this disease 011 which widely dillefing theories have been propounded. The object I have in view is less ambitious, but yet perhaps more a it is to remedy for me
really utilitarian,
the disease.
suggest
possible
Macru 1,
SELECTION".
1875.]
that the bare mention of a remedy for cholera incredulity in the minds of most of your readers, perhaps in your own, especially when I say it has not yet been tried. Many will say, why not try it first, and write about it afterwards. But the trial can be made by any of your readers as well as by myself, and as cholera is, I hear, appearing in the neighbourhood of Jessore, perhaps some may have the opportunity of testing it earlier than I can here, where, by God's blessing, cholera does not prevail I will
am aware
awaken
extensirely. It is, I believe, well-known that workers in copper appear to enjoy immunity from cholera, and the question suggests itself, to what is this immunity due ? Some may consider that it is by copper itself in some way acting as a prophylactic; against this I will merely say, that I should be only too thankful were it found on trial an elTectual preventative, but I am not aware that such has been the case. And when we remember that one important feature in copper smelting is the burning away as sulphurous acid of the sulphur portion of the pyrites, may not the prophylactic influence be exerted by this agent. ? Again, while the many anomalies and apparent contradictions which meet one at every step of an enquiry into the nature of cholera, as yet preclude the laying down of any general law, even apparently insignificant circumstances may turn out to bo important stepping stones in this direction. As possibly of this class I may note the fact that 011 some occasions repeated discharges of artillery have been followed by a decided change for the better in cholera epidemics; can this hare been due to the sulphurous acid set free ? It may be said however that even should sulphurous acid be a prophylactic against cholera it does not necessarily follow that it will cure if. 1 freely concede this, but would it not be well in our present helpless condition with regard to cholera, to try any remedy that may seem to present the least prospect
of success.
Sulphurous acid a powerful disinfectant and destroyer of vegetable life, is, I would submit, a remedy worth trying, even without any presumptive evidence in its favour. IIowt shall it be given ? I would suggest that as the acid in solution is so liable to decompose, recourse should be had to some of the sulphites, which l'olli recommended some years ago for typhoid fever, but which, I think, I have reason for hoping, will be more successful in this disease, than they were for that; Perhaps the sulphite or hyposulphite of soda might prove the best. At the same lime I would recommend that sulphur should be freely burnt in the sick ward or room, or sulphurous acid spray diffused through the atmosphere of the sick room, and it. might be possible in some cases to give the patient a sulphurous ucid vapour bath. I am,
Sir, Yours faithfully, Charles It. G. Parker,
Sure/eon-Major, Tizianageaji, January llh, 1S75.
12th
Regiment, M.N.I.
EDITOR OF TOE
Sir,?Will you give
"
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
space in the pages of your valuable journal to say a few words on the subject of cholera. It is not my intention to enter 011 the vexed question of its contagiousness or non-contagiousness, of its origin, proximate or remote, of its mode of development, or on the many other points in connection with this disease 011 which widely dillefing theories have been propounded. The object I have in view is less ambitious, but yet perhaps more a it is to remedy for me
really utilitarian,
the disease.
suggest
possible
Macru 1,
SELECTION".
1875.]
that the bare mention of a remedy for cholera incredulity in the minds of most of your readers, perhaps in your own, especially when I say it has not yet been tried. Many will say, why not try it first, and write about it afterwards. But the trial can be made by any of your readers as well as by myself, and as cholera is, I hear, appearing in the neighbourhood of Jessore, perhaps some may have the opportunity of testing it earlier than I can here, where, by God's blessing, cholera does not prevail I will
am aware
awaken
extensirely. It is, I believe, well-known that workers in copper appear to enjoy immunity from cholera, and the question suggests itself, to what is this immunity due ? Some may consider that it is by copper itself in some way acting as a prophylactic; against this I will merely say, that I should be only too thankful were it found on trial an elTectual preventative, but I am not aware that such has been the case. And when we remember that one important feature in copper smelting is the burning away as sulphurous acid of the sulphur portion of the pyrites, may not the prophylactic influence be exerted by this agent. ? Again, while the many anomalies and apparent contradictions which meet one at every step of an enquiry into the nature of cholera, as yet preclude the laying down of any general law, even apparently insignificant circumstances may turn out to bo important stepping stones in this direction. As possibly of this class I may note the fact that 011 some occasions repeated discharges of artillery have been followed by a decided change for the better in cholera epidemics; can this hare been due to the sulphurous acid set free ? It may be said however that even should sulphurous acid be a prophylactic against cholera it does not necessarily follow that it will cure if. 1 freely concede this, but would it not be well in our present helpless condition with regard to cholera, to try any remedy that may seem to present the least prospect
of success.
Sulphurous acid a powerful disinfectant and destroyer of vegetable life, is, I would submit, a remedy worth trying, even without any presumptive evidence in its favour. IIowt shall it be given ? I would suggest that as the acid in solution is so liable to decompose, recourse should be had to some of the sulphites, which l'olli recommended some years ago for typhoid fever, but which, I think, I have reason for hoping, will be more successful in this disease, than they were for that; Perhaps the sulphite or hyposulphite of soda might prove the best. At the same lime I would recommend that sulphur should be freely burnt in the sick ward or room, or sulphurous acid spray diffused through the atmosphere of the sick room, and it. might be possible in some cases to give the patient a sulphurous ucid vapour bath. I am,
Sir, Yours faithfully, Charles It. G. Parker,
Sure/eon-Major, Tizianageaji, January llh, 1S75.
12th
Regiment, M.N.I.
