10 Glasgow Med. Jour., 1880.
11 Lancet, April 12, 1879.
West advises dilute hydrocyanic acid, and many writers agree with him, ranking it next to belladonna.
Harley and others are strong advocates for the bromide of ammonium; it is supposed to have a local anæsthetic action on the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucous membrane. Fordyce Grinnell12 during four months treated 223 cases with this remedy, and highly recommends it. The doses were in accordance with those of Dr. Kormann—¾ to 4 grains, as indicated by age, three or four times a day and at night when the paroxysms were severe. No other treatment was used in these 223 cases, except camphorated oil to the throat and chest in some cases. Potassium bromide has been recommended by Helenke, Beaufort, Erlenmeyer, and others. Henry Field13 recommends sodium bromide.
12 Med. News, 1882.
13 Brit. Med. Jour.
Probably next to belladonna in the treatment of this disease we should place chloral hydrate.
Hebner, after an elaborate study of the relative value of potassium bromide, quinia, salicylic acid, chloral, and belladonna, says: "Salicylic acid and chloral tend to relieve the paroxysms—belladonna and quinia to shorten the disease." Kennedy14 writes: "I cannot doubt its specific effects on the cough. Chloral seems to me to yield the best and most constant results. The advantage of chloral hydrate seems to exist in producing sleep; it should be given in from 2- to 5-gr. doses, at night." If there is much irritability or fretfulness, or any premonition of eclampsia, it should be associated with potassium bromide.
14 Dublin Jour. M. S., 1881.
Croton chloral has received much praise from those who have used it; we have had no experience with it.