I believe you are a physician at Exeter?—Yes, Sir.
Have you, in the course of your medical experience, been called upon to attend cases of Cholera Morbus?—Yes, frequently.
From what cause, in general, does Cholera Morbus arise?—It generally arises from putrid bile collected in the intestines, which is thrown off by vomiting, and diarrhœa, or purging.
Is it a disorder which is in its nature fatal?—It is the most acute disease known in Great Britain.
What do you mean by the term ‘acute’?—I mean by the term acute, a disease which runs its course in the most rapid manner.
What should be the usual course of attack of Cholera Morbus as to duration, supposing the patient ultimately died of it?—It very frequently kills the patient within twenty-four hours, and if neglected or improperly treated, it kills the patient in a much shorter period.
What should you esteem a reasonable symptom of a person of the age of 64 or 65 having this complaint? what should you expect to find in a person with this complaint?—Constant vomiting and purging, attended with pain in the stomach and cramp in the legs.
In that state of the disorder, what should you prescribe?—I should prescribe that the patient drink plentifully of any warm fluid, such as mutton-broth or tea, and then I should give a large dose of opium.
Supposing you were called in to attend a woman with the symptoms you have mentioned, whose pulse was frequent and fluttering, what would you prescribe?—I should then give her a large dose of opium, and I should repeat it at intervals, until the retching, vomiting, and diarrhœa ceased, or till she felt better.
I shall not trouble you, nor my Lord, by going through the particular circumstances which Dr. Edwards has spoken to, but merely ask you, had you the pleasure of hearing his evidence?—I had.