It appears, on the most satisfactory authority, that the disease which
has so long prevailed in the Russian dominions, and within the last
six months, has been advancing in Europe, is contagious. Our
correspondent in Vienna says, that it is evidently a combination of
plague and cholera morbus; _i.e._ the general disturbance of the
system is of the nature of plague, and with such a state of
constitution, the affection of the chylopoietic viscera, (in
consequence of which the name of cholera morbus has been, given to
it,) often terminates life in the course of three hours. It appears,
from the report of Professor Lichtenstein, of St. Petersburgh, that
the proportion of deaths is one in four, and that in Moscow it has
been one in three. During the summer the mortality by the disease was
certainly much greater than in winter. All the modes of combating this
most formidable malady that have been suggested by the different
boards of health on the continent, and some practitioners of this
country, have totally failed. The remedies that have proved most
successful in the cholera morbus of India have evidently proved
injurious in the disease so denominated in Russia. As a security
against the contagion, our correspondent recommends brandy with
laudanum; the former to keep up the vigour of the abdominal viscera,
and the latter to prevent morbid excitability of the system, which
predisposes the body to the action of the contagion. In India, brandy
and laudanum have been very successfully administered in cases of the
cholera of that country. As the recommendation of our correspondent
appears to be very reasonable, we advise those who believe in the
predictions of a certain popular preacher, that the disease will reach
our shores before autumn, to lay in a good stock of genuine brandy and
laudanum. Notwithstanding bleeding, calomel in small and large doses,
opium, cajeput oil, sub-carbonate of ammonia, muriatic acid, camphor
fumigation, warm covering, and friction have been employed, the
disease has run its regular course, and the result, in every case,
seems to have depended on the natural stamina of the patients. To
those who had freely indulged in wine or spirits, it has generally
terminated fatally. Among the Russians it has proved more fatal than
among the Poles, in consequence, as it is supposed, of the great
quantity of fish-oil the former take at every meal.
* * * * *
We quote the preceding from Dr. Reece's _Gazette of Practical
Medicine_.
* * * * *
In the _Atlas_ we find the following:--An eminent surgeon, Mr. Hope,
who has had thirty years' practice, in which he has treated cases of
cholera morbus very successfully, has made public the means which he
used for the general good. He says, "The remedy I gave was one drachm
of nitrous acid (not nitric, that has foiled me), one ounce of
peppermint-water or camphor mixture, and 40 drops of tincture of
opium. A fourth part every three or four hours in a cupful of thin
gruel. The belly should be covered with a succession of hot cloths
dry; bottles of hot water to the feet, if they can be obtained;
constant and small sippings of finely strained gruel, or sago, or
tapioca; no spirit, no wine, no fermented liquors, till quite
restored." The French surgeons now use laudanum and abstain from
venesection. Another recipe is simply repeated draughts of hot water
in large quantities.
* * * * *