Publishers' Department. Entered at the post office at St. Louis, Mo., as second-class matter in December, 1894. Reentered as the JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY AND CLINICAL REPORTER in April, 1895. Exchanges, books and publications for review should be addressed to W. A. Edmonds, A. M. M. D., 2924 Washington Ave. Contributions, and matter for publication should be addressed to J. Martine Kershaw, M. D., 3500 Laclede Ave., St. Louis. The Shultz Publishing Co., 105-107 N. Sixth St., has charge of all matters pertaining to the business department of the JOURNAL, to whom all correspondence should be addressed. RATIONAL THERAPEUTICS OF CHOLERA INFANTUM. BY GUSTAVUS BLECH, M. D., ST. LOUIS. No strict rules can be given for the treatment of disease. It is for this reason that so many physicians say we do not treat a disease, but we treat an individual. True enough, we treat the individual, but what we have most of all to consider is the disease. The individual will dictate us alterations and modifications in our treatment. A general plan of treatment may be outlined, however, and I will try to do in regard to one of the most fatal disease of babyhood-cholera infantum. There is a certain philosophy in therapeutics which I would frame in three following rules: First, remove if possible the disturbing causes; second, treat symptoms which per se are liable to endanger the life of the patient; and third, sustain vitality. As said before, the therapeutics, which is based upon the etiology and pathology of a given case is the only one to be employed. Now, the etiology of cholera infantum is not so obscure as asserted by a good many authors. Whether or not of microbic origin, one thing is sure it is due to a chemical decomposition of food, causing an inflammatory condition of the digestive and alimentary canal. Clinical experience, furthermore, shows that this disease is of a grave character, producing death in a large proportion. Heat per se is not the immediate cause of this disease, but it influences its course considerably. Therefore, gastric or intestinal dis Doctor Join your brother physicians and attend the meeting of American Institute of Homœopathy AT NEWPORT, R. I., JUNE 20th to 29th, 1895. St. Louis physicians and physicians from the West and South-West have selected the BIG FOUR ROUTE and will leave at 7:55 p. m. JUNE 17th, 1895 In connection with Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, New York Central Ry., Boston & Albany Ry. and Old Colony Ry., or privilege of going via. New York City at rate of ONE AND ONE THIRD FARE for the round trip. Through Sleeping Cars St. Louis to Boston and New York. No other line can offer the magnificent service and time as the BIG FOUR ROUTE. For further information, address, J. Martine Kershaw, M. D., St. Louis, or W. F. SNYDER, Gen'l. Western Agent Big Four Route, St. Louis, Mo. turbances in summer demand a closer attention than those which occur during the colder season. Cholera infantum is a disease met even in the palaces of the rich, although not so often as in the tenement houses of the poor, which fact proves again that bad air, filth and lack of ventilation are also of a predisposing influence, as well as an obstacle to a quick cure. The mortality in the tenement houses is larger than that of the richer parts. If we consider the aforesaid, we shall first of all, as regards the treatment of this disease, have to restrict diet. As soon as called to a case of cholera infantum, prohibit for the first day any food whatever. Mothers have no right to nurse the little pa tient either. Strict instructions must be given in that direction, because the timid mothers are often inclined to quiet the crying babies by putting them to the breast. Remedies are of very little value. Beginning with calomel, salol, and all the newer antiseptics, finishing with subnitrate of bismuth-they have all proved a failure, for none of them work quickly enough. The treatment as outlined by Dr. Elmer Lee, of Chicago, in his cases of typhoid fever, proved a success in my hands during last summer, and under this treatment I have lost only one patient out of twenty-three, while the monuments of my skill exercised during the year 1893 are decorating the cemeteries of the State of Connecticut. So far as I knew, the best antiseptic (which has also a strong tendency to reduce local inflammation) was peroxide of hydrogen (medicinal) until hydrozone was used by me. Hydrozone being twice as strong as economical reasons), the latter drug Marchand's peroxide of hydrogen (for is preferred by me. This remedy can be administered internally as well as externally. PEPTENZYME I add a tablespoonful of hydrozone Will render you greater service in the treatment of CHOLERA INFANTUM we believe, than any known remedy. It was thoroughly tested last summer, and did not fail in any case when administered in time. : : :: : ::: Peptenzyme differs in every essential feature from all digestive products in use, and is less expensive, considering its digestive power and properties. Prepared in the form of Tablets, Powder, and Elixir. Send for Samples and Pamphlets Describing Peptenzyme in Full REED & CARNRICK NEW YORK FOR BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL USE. LISTERINE. Non-Toxic, Non-Irritant, Non-Escharotic-Absolutely Safe, Agreeable and Convenient. FORMULA.-LISTERINE is the essential antiseptic constituent of Thyme, Eucalyptus, DOSE. Internally: One teaspoonful three or more times a day (as indicated), either LISTERINE is a well-proven antiseptic agent-an antizymotic-especially useful in the management of catarrhal conditions of the mucous membrane, adapted to internal use and to make and maintain surgical cleanliness—asepsis—in the treatment of all parts of the human body, whether by spray, injection, irrigation, atomization, inhalation, or simple local application, and therefore characterized by its particular adaptability to the field of PREVENTIVE MEDICINE-INDIVIDUAL PROPHYLAXIS. LISTERINE destroys promptly all odors emanating from diseased gums and teeth, and will be found of great value when taken internally, in teaspoonful doses, to control the fermentative eructations of dyspepsia, and to disinfect the mouth, throat and stomach. It is a perfect tooth and mouth wash, INDISPENSABLE FOR THE DENTAL TOILET. DISEASES OF THE URIC ACID DIATHESIS. LAMBERT'S LITHIATED HYDRANGEA. RENAL ALTERATIVE-ANTI-LITHIC. FORMULA. Each fluid drachm of "LITHIATED HYDRANGEA" represents thirty grains Close clinical observation has caused Lambert's Lithiated Hydrangea to be regarded by physicians gener ally as a very valuable Kidney Alterative and Anti-lithic agent in the treatment of Urinary Calculus, Gout, Rheumatism, Cystitis, Diabetes, Hæmaturia, Bright's Disease, Albuminuria, and Vesical Irritations Generally. REALI EALIZING that in many of the diseases in which LAMBERT'S LITHIATED HYDRANGEA has been suggesting the articles of food to be allowed or prohibited in several of these diseases. A book of these Dietetic Notes, each note perforated and convenient for the physician to detach and distribute to patients, supplied upon request, together with literature fully descriptive of LISTERINE AND LAMBERT'S LITHIATED HYDRANGEA LAMBERT PHARMACAL CO., St. Louis, U. S. British, Canadian, French, Spanish, German and South American Trade Constantly Supplied. to a pint of water for washing out the stomach. The vomiting ceases after the first washing as a rule. If necessary, this procedure can be repeated. If the vital power of the little patient is not too low it can produce no harm. But in every case, no matter how far advanced, I do not omit an irrigation of the bowels, for which purpose I use a soft rubber catheter attached to a common bulb syringe. The catheter is introduced as high in the colon as possible. It is unnecessary to say that the water must first be sterilized. I do not agree with Dr. Lee in using hot soap water. On the contrary, I use cold water, and add to each quart about two ounces of hydrozone. The improvement after the first or second irrigation is marked. If necessary, these irrigations can be repeated every two hours. Among other remedies there are only two to be employed, morphine and strychnine. Both ought to be administered hypodermically. Their indication is too well known and they are about all we need. No antipyretics should be given. If the fever is very high and if the irrigation of the bowels does not reduce it, the whole body should be washed with alcohol. The diet for the next twenty-four hours should be very light indeed. Sweet, strong Russian tea is all I allow. Each individual case will teach us when food can be allowed again. Since the adoption of this mode of treatment I have met with the most remarkable success, and no honest practitioner should refuse it a trial. -New York Medical Journal. |