SULPHURIC ACID IN CHOLERA. "
of theIndian Medical Gazette Sir,?The following extract from one of the English Registrar-General's Weekly Reports may be of interest in conTo the Editor
nexion with Dr. MacCormac's letters referred to on page 342 of the December number of the I. M. Gazette for 1879 :? " In medicine various theories prevail ; and cathartics have been commended by some eminent physicians even in diarrhoea and cholera ; by others they have been held to be deadly. It is worthy of remark that the successful handling of the men in the Post Office and in the other public services was based on the principle of preventing and of curing the diarrhoea. The treatment of actual disease of course varies according to the circumstances of the case, and can only be properly prescribed by the medical attendant. There is no single antidote. As a valuable adjunct against the epidemic the following orangeade, suggested by Dr. Waller Lewis, has been extensively used with excellent effects :? " Sulphuric Orangeade useful in Cholera times.?Concentrated compound infusion of orange peel 3 oz., simple syrup 12 oz., boiled filtered water 4 gallons, mix well, and add 3 oz. of diluted sulphuric acid. A wine glassful may be taken for a draught with the addition of more or less of filtered water according to taste. Of this beverage 1350 gallons were consumed with the best effect among the men of the London Post Office during the epidemic of 186G ; it superseded to a great extent raw water and bad beer ; its cost is only 4\d. a gallon. The idea is excellent, as in hot weather men drink anything, and this fluid supersedes noxious .
.
.
.
waters."
While I had charge of Dr. Raye's duties at the Presidency General Hospital in Autumn of 1876, one of the patients wrote me a memo, detailing his cholera experiences during the epidemic of I860 in Glasgow. He said lie was at that time employed in a " chemical works" in Glasgow : and he and his fellow workmen remarked that while in the surrounding factories many were being attacked and overthrown by the disease, none of the chemical factory hands were attacked. This immunity they attributed to the fact that when any of their number wished a drink of water he first took a stick and dipped it into a carboy of crude vitriol and then stirred " it in the drinking water till it got quite tart," after which the water was considered safe to drink. Yours sincerely, TAT. (J. WEIR, M.B., Allahabad. Surgeon, 16th B. Cavy.
of theIndian Medical Gazette Sir,?The following extract from one of the English Registrar-General's Weekly Reports may be of interest in conTo the Editor
nexion with Dr. MacCormac's letters referred to on page 342 of the December number of the I. M. Gazette for 1879 :? " In medicine various theories prevail ; and cathartics have been commended by some eminent physicians even in diarrhoea and cholera ; by others they have been held to be deadly. It is worthy of remark that the successful handling of the men in the Post Office and in the other public services was based on the principle of preventing and of curing the diarrhoea. The treatment of actual disease of course varies according to the circumstances of the case, and can only be properly prescribed by the medical attendant. There is no single antidote. As a valuable adjunct against the epidemic the following orangeade, suggested by Dr. Waller Lewis, has been extensively used with excellent effects :? " Sulphuric Orangeade useful in Cholera times.?Concentrated compound infusion of orange peel 3 oz., simple syrup 12 oz., boiled filtered water 4 gallons, mix well, and add 3 oz. of diluted sulphuric acid. A wine glassful may be taken for a draught with the addition of more or less of filtered water according to taste. Of this beverage 1350 gallons were consumed with the best effect among the men of the London Post Office during the epidemic of 186G ; it superseded to a great extent raw water and bad beer ; its cost is only 4\d. a gallon. The idea is excellent, as in hot weather men drink anything, and this fluid supersedes noxious .
.
.
.
waters."
While I had charge of Dr. Raye's duties at the Presidency General Hospital in Autumn of 1876, one of the patients wrote me a memo, detailing his cholera experiences during the epidemic of I860 in Glasgow. He said lie was at that time employed in a " chemical works" in Glasgow : and he and his fellow workmen remarked that while in the surrounding factories many were being attacked and overthrown by the disease, none of the chemical factory hands were attacked. This immunity they attributed to the fact that when any of their number wished a drink of water he first took a stick and dipped it into a carboy of crude vitriol and then stirred " it in the drinking water till it got quite tart," after which the water was considered safe to drink. Yours sincerely, TAT. (J. WEIR, M.B., Allahabad. Surgeon, 16th B. Cavy.
