360 NITRITE OF AMYL IN THE COLLAPSE OF CHOLERA. 



102 to 114, and the temperature in the axilla rose from 9d^° to 

 96|-° ¥., after inhalation of the nitrite of amyl for three minutes. 

 The inhalation appeared to aggravate his thirst. In another 

 case, that of a woman aged thirty-four, also in collapse, the 

 pulse became perceptible after inhalation for a few minutes ; 

 and the patient seemed otherwise improved. Thirst seemed 

 aggravated by the inhalation in this case also. A boy aged 

 four, in collapse, inhaled the amyl for a few minutes, after winch 

 there was a slight appearance of colour in the face. The boy 

 strenuously resisted its further administration, owing to the 

 obstruction to free respiration which it occasioned. In several 

 other cases the amyl was tried ; but although, when inhaled for 

 a few minutes, it usually heightened in some degree the colour 

 of the face and surface-temperature, the difficulty of inducing 

 patients to continue the experiment for a sufficient length of 

 time, owing to its interference with respiration and the increased 

 thirst which it occasioned, caused it to be abandoned." 



As the results of their trial of oxygen are very interesting, I 

 subjoin them also. 



" Inhalation of oxygen by means of Dr. Eichardson's apparatus 

 was also made trial of. In one case, that of a woman in collapse, 

 the pulse became perceptible for a few minutes. A woman aged 

 forty-four, in collapse, inhaled oxygen for eighteen minutes. 

 The pulse, previously all but imperceptible, increased in strength ; 

 and the temperature of the surface was slightly elevated. In a 

 third case, that of a girl aged twenty-four, oxygen was adminis- 

 tered on three several occasions. The temperature rose slightly 

 after the lirst administration, and the patient requested that she 

 might have it again, as it gave her relief. The oxygen, like the 

 amyl, though of temporary advantage, was found to produce no 

 permanent benefit, and was therefore abandoned." 



Both these remedies seem to offer fair promise of success, and 

 their use is certainly indicated by the symptoms ; that of nitrite 

 of amyl by the contracted state of the vessels which is almost 

 certainly present in the collapse of cholera ; and that of oxygen 

 by the cyanotic appearance of the patient, and by the diminished 

 combustion in the body, which is indicated by the small amount 

 of carbonic acid given off from the lungs during this state. It 



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