100 THE MICROSCOPE. 



with a long needle and a large barrel syringe beneath the in- 

 tegument of the abdomen. The amount of salt solution used 

 in either case would be from one pint to one quart each time. 

 In one case treated at Hamburg as much as thirteen quarts of 

 salt-water were used from first to last. The patient recovered. 

 The subcutaneous injections were frequently followed by cysts 

 and sometimes abscesses appeared. Intravenous injections 

 sometimes proved a godsend, but more frequently disap- 

 pointment could be said to be the result. These injections 

 were only used in the third period of the disease or the stage 

 of collapse, algidity or asphyxiation, at which period it would 

 be rather unreasonable to expect recovery by virtue of any 

 treatment. 



The Italian treatment, as it was called in Russia, was much 

 used and with frequent gratif} T ing success. This practice was 

 introduced by Prof. Cantani. It consists of a clyster composed 

 of the following constituents : 



Boiled water or infusion of chamomile, (warm) 2 litres. 

 Tannin, 5 to 10 grams. 

 Laudanum, 30 to 50 drops. 

 Powdered gum-arabic, 50 grams. 



This or some part of the solution is occasionally passed into 

 the rectum, to be retained if possible by thepatient. In the ex- 

 perience of those who have followed this method of treatment 

 almost every case taken at the beginning of the disease has 

 lived. It is certainly more reasonable in principle than sim- 

 ple medical management. 



Of the experiments of Ferran, of Spain, and HafTkine of the 

 Pasteur Institute, much has been said, but what has been said 

 has failed to bring conviction to my mind. As cholera itself 

 cannot be said to protect one who has had the disease, and re- 

 covered, against a second attack, then that which is less than 

 cholera in influence cannot be expected to do it. The seat of 

 the disease is located in the intestines, and, so long as the in- 

 fectious juices are there, the lymph vessels in the processes of 

 physiological function will continue to infect the blood. Can 

 we hope to thwart physiological action of absorbents by hypo- 

 dermic injection of cholera culture, made at some time, it 

 may be years previous to the date of the passing epidemic? 



