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DOSNT CS Cpe an ene eae RCRD ee ee 
759 
hygienic and sanitary measures. The late Russo-J apanese war furnishes 
a confirmatory example of this statement. The hygienic measures 
adopted in the Japanese army proved sufficient to limit to a minimum 
such diseases as typhoid, typhus, dysenteries, scorbutus, etc., but they 
were of no avail against beriberi. Beyond all doubt there is one factor 
which favors the occurrence and spread of beriberi in those countries 
and among those races where it is at all prevalent, and that is the 
crowding together of large numbers of persons into limited spaces, as in 
prisons, barracks, schools, factories, mines, and ships. If beriberi appears 
under such environment, the situations should, if possible, be abandoned 
as dwellings, or at least the number of inmates should be decreased and 
a thorough disinfection, airing, and drying should be undertaken. The 
statements in regard to the effects of a change from a rice diet to some 
other, as a prophylactic against beriberi, are up to the present time so 
hopelessly contradictory that reliable conclusions can not be drawn from 
them. Women sick with beriberi should not nurse children. Scheube 
recommends as prophylactic measures, draining of the soil, a rational 
sewer system, proper hygiene as to the supply of drinking water, ventila- 
tion of houses, removal of beriberi patients, examination of ships before 
departure and detention of persons afflicted with beriberi or suspected of 
having the disease. 
TREATMENT. 
There is no specific treatment for beriberi. A patient suffering from 
this disease should be confined to bed. Even in mild cases in the early 
stages of the disease, rest should be. insisted upon, since it is important 
to reduce the heart’s action as much as possible, in order to guard against 
future and often unexpectedly grave cardiac complications. It has 
generally been found very advantageous to administer the saline laxatives 
in large doses during the first stages of beriberi. A favorite J apanese 
prescription, used very extensively, is the following : 
- Magnesii sulfurici 30 to 50 grams. 
Acidi muriatici diluti 1.5 to 2 ce. 
Tincture amare 4ac. 
Aq. dest. q. s. ad. 200 c. c. 
M. D. S. 30 ¢. ¢. three times per day. 
This treatment should be continued during five to seven days, followed 
by an intermission of a few days, after which it should be repeated. 
Other laxatives and purgatives recommended are cream of tartar, in- 
fusion of senna, Carlsbad salt, castor oil, and aloes and jalap pills. 
Where there is marked odema, Baelz and K. Miura recommend potassium 
acetate, potassium nitrate, or diuretin. Scheube has strongly advocated 
the use of digitalis in beriberi, but most other observers consider it of 
very doubtful value, and it has repeatedly been stated that in many 
cases it has a decidedly injurious effect in that it helps to produce 
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