“Supercarbonate of Soda, ℨss. Muriate of Soda, ℈j. Chlorate of Potass, grs. vii.
“The above was given every hour, and continued until the patients were recovering from the state of collapse; after which it was diminished in frequency, in proportion as the reäction increased.
“In all these cases, the outline of the practice was nearly the same; but in several instances the treatment was varied according to circumstances. When the stomach, for example, was extremely irritable, it was found that the carbonate of soda, given by itself, or the tartrate of soda, in a state of effervescence, were the most effective remedies that could be used on purpose to allay the irritation, so as to enable the stomach to retain the stronger salts.
“During the progress of the disease, an enema, with a large table-spoonful of muriate of soda, dissolved in warm water, was administered with or without sugar, starch, &c. every three or four hours, at as high a temperature as the patients could well bear it. Sinapisms were also applied as early as possible to the region of the stomach, betwixt the shoulders, &c.; and in the cold stage, frictions were also frequently used with warm towels. Of the seventeen cases that were treated in this way, two died, (namely, the two patients who were reädmitted in a state of complete collapse,) making in seventeen cases, two deaths, and fifteen recoveries. But including the whole of those that were under the saline treatment, the total amount is, in thirty-six cases, two deaths, and thirty-four recoveries.
“The cases in question were under the care of Mr. Wakefield, the medical attendant of the establishment, and during his absence they were attended to by Mr. J. Wm. Crooke, who kept notes of the cases, and saw that the medicines were properly administered. We may add, also, that Mr. Wakefield, with a degree of fairness which does him great credit, invited Dr. Stevens to attend along with him to witness the effect of the saline treatment, which has here, we may say, for the first time, been fairly tried in this disease.
“We can also state, that the cholera made its appearance about the same period amongst a small colony of Italians, who live in a narrow lane within a few hundred yards of the prison. Of these, eleven were attacked. The three first cases were treated by bleeding, brandy, and opium, all used at the same time, and they all died. The other eight cases were attended by Mr. Whitmore, a surgeon in the neighbourhood, who, having witnessed the effects of the saline treatment in the prison, adopted it. All his patients speedily and completely recovered, except one, who, on the 13th, was so ill that he was not expected to live many hours; even he, however, is now in a state of convalescence. Thus there have been in all fifty-three cases, seven of which were treated in the common way, with diffusible stimuli; and out of this number seven died; while, of the forty-six that were under the saline treatment, there were two deaths and forty-four recoveries.”
Cholera at New York.
The decrease of cholera at New York during the past week has been exceedingly slow; nevertheless, there can be no doubt that the disease has passed its zenith in that city.