ASIATIC CHOLERA. 11^ 



shining. The child lies in an imperfect doze, with half closed eye- 

 lids, insensible to external impressions. 



The surface of the body is now cool and clammy, of a dingy 

 hue, and often covered with petechioe ; the tongue is dark, and the 

 fauces dry. The abdomen becomes tympanitic ; the discharges 

 from the bowels are dark coloured, profuse, and ofiensive, resem- 

 bling the washings of stale meat ; in other instances they may be 

 small, and consist of mucus, and undigested food. 



According to Dr. Condie, " the disease is evidently dependent for 

 its production upon the action of a heated, confined, and impure 

 atmosphere, directly upon the skin, and indirectly upon the digestive 

 mucous surface, at an age, when the latter is already strongly pre- 

 disposed to disease, from the effects of dentition, and from the in- 

 creased development and activity of the muciparous follicles, which 

 takes place at that period. 



Treatment. — The most important point in the treatment is to re- 

 move the child from a heated and impure atmosphere. A nursing 

 child should be confined exclusively to the breast ; if weaned, to 

 tapioca, arrow-root, or ground rice, and cool mucilaginous drinks. 

 A tepid bath should be employed night and morning ; the clothing 

 should be light and dry, and the chamber well ventilated. 



The gums should be examined, and if swollen and hot, they 

 should be freely lanced. 



Small doses of calomel, acetate of lead, and prepared chalk, will 

 be found most serviceable in arresting the diarrhoea. The irrita- 

 bility of the stomach may be overcome by small doses of calomel, 

 or a few drops of spirits of turpentine ; a blister applied over the 

 stomach will also be decidedly advantageous. 



When there is much heat about the head, with injected conjunc- 

 tiva and delirium, leeches should be applied to the temples, and cold 

 lotions to the scalp. Stimulating pediluvia, and blisters placed be- 

 hind the ears, will also be found extremely beneficial. 



After the irritability of the stomach is sufficiently quieted, the 

 addition of a small quantity of ipecacuanha to the calomel, chalk, 

 and acetate of lead, will most certainly, according to Dr. Condie, 

 promptly restrain the disordered action of the bowels, and complete 

 the cure. 



ASIATIC CHOLERA. 



This disease is endemic in India, but sometimes extends to other 

 parts of the globe. It is, no doubt, propagated by atmospheric in- 

 fluence. 



Symptoms. — There is generally a premonitory diarrhoea^ with 

 occasional nausea, slight cramps, and heaviness about the head. 

 In other cases, it commences suddenly with violent vomiting and 

 purging (not of bile as in common cholera) but of a rice-coloured 



