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Thirst in European patients was more marked than in the Chinese, and the soldiers attacked seemed to thrive on beer and stout which had been well ice l. This was what they preferred to have and I must say it did excellently well, being at once stimulant, soporific, nutritious, and thirst quenching. Ice cream made with pure cream was also greatly relished by the European patients.
As regards diarrhoea the best results were got from salol grs. x every 4 hours. Naphthol and other similar drugs would probably have been equally gooÎ but were not so easily procurable. In another epidemic some of these so-called intestinal anti- septics should be freely used, as they do no harm as a rule, and the possibility of diminishing the virulency of the faces by their means should not be overlooked. Mist Astring c. Opio was of little avail. Enemata of starch and opium were not of much use either, being seldom retained for more than a minute. If straining was troublesome a suppository of morphia gr. 4 and cocaine gr. 1 as a rule brought about comparative comfort after two or three introductions. The treat- ment of the bubo resolved itself into simple methods. Glycerine and belladonna at the beginning of the epidemic was the most useful applications, on account of the painful character of the swelling; whilst later, when suppuration dil not take place so often, iodine proved the more useful application. In the earlier period of the epidemic this drug would have had no more effect than ditch water. When- ever redness appeared we poulticed at once and opened; whenever pus was diagnosed, we opened freely and drained; iodoform being the best application, the bacilli in the swelling disappearing from the discharge in a few days. It was very necessary to ensure good drainage, as if imperfect, burrowing was almost sure to be very troublesome. Bladder trouble,--Retention, Cystitis, &c..-had to be met by catheterization, diluent drinks, strychnia,-in fact ordinary treatment; lung trouble by ordinary medical measures; the addition of a little senega to the ammonia, cinchona and digitalis being as a rule quite sufficient to bring about improvement. Pneumonia was treated secundum artem as it arose-and we soon learnt to keep a sharp lookout for it, especially after the first fever.
Camphor was given to Professor AOYAMA, (as it was one of his favourite drugs) as a cardiac stimulant. It could not do harm, but we took good care to let him have plenty of ammonia, brandy, digitalis, &c., as well.
AOYAMA himself, before his attack, had suggested in the wards that digitalis folia would probably be the most satisfactory method of exhibiting this drug-his suggestion was applied in his own case, but without any specially markel good
effect.
When it is borne in mind that the loss of hæmoglobin was noted as an import- ant symptom from the very beginning of the outbreak, the possibility of the transfusion of healthy blood naturally suggested itself as likely to be at least a small help in treatment. Some experimenters maintain that it is no use, or rather that salt and water is as good. I doubt it. Not only would the amount of hæmoglobin be increased, but fresh and healthy leucocytes would be introduce into the patient's system, and there is no knowing what assistance this might not be to the fighting line of the person attacked. When Captain VESEY was so ill we had numerous volunteers from his regiment to give blood if the course of the case proved suitable for the operation, but as in his case the hemoglobin did not fall below 40% and his lung and brain symptoms were so acute, the occasion did not occur. In one case where a Chinaman had been lying in a collapsed condition for almost two days we transfused him with a hot saline solution with the result that his circulation improved for some hours, but he again sank into his former state of collapse and died. The fluid was injected at a temperature of 110° F. in the funnel, and had a distinctly beneficial effect on his general condition, but it was only temporary as we expected it would be.
A supply of oxygen for inhalation was kept ready for all the European and Japanese patients. When administered it always improved the pulse and respira- tion for a short time. It was only used in the worst cases- -the trouble of
prepara- tion and administration, and the want of time preventing an extended experience of it being gained."
Injection of iodide of mercury into the bubo was tried at the Alice Memorial Branch Hospital but I do not think with success. We tried carbolic acid in a fow cases but it was useless. I do not think that these injections can ever be of the slightest good after the disease has developed, as the greater part of the solution cannot be absorbed, and the amount necessary to counteract the poison would simply assist in killing the patient.
Nitrite of amyl and nitroglycerine were suggested by some enthusiasts as suitable drugs to be used in heart failure in the later stages. They were never tried as in my opinion they would only have made the vascular condition worse.
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