168 THE ABORTIVE TREATMENT OF CHOLERA. 



a record of his cases and tabulate them, valuable information could be 

 afforded on this and kindred subjects. 



The attention of the profession in this city has been already directed 

 to the subject of the means of prevention or prophylaxy, and the 

 excellent memorandum of the Central Board of Health affords most 

 valuable information and suggestions to physicians, and the public 

 alike ; yet a great deal more may be done by the timely counsels of 

 Medical men to their patients and the circles in which they move, as 

 the influence of each one is more manifest there than elsewhere. In 

 this connection it may not be amiss to call to mind the urgent neces- 

 sity for Medical men and nurses to maintain perfect cleanliness of 

 hands, and person generally, having water and towels in readiness for 

 use after visiting every sick room, and enforcing the propriety of 

 domestics and others not handling food without washing the hands. 

 Dr. Beck recommended that all provisions be carefully washed on 

 being brought into the house, or else exposed to a temperature of 

 212°. 



In reference to what is termed abortive treatment, it may be pre- 

 mised that efforts in this direction have often met with success. A 

 notable instance of it occurred at Newcastle, on the outbreak of cholera 

 there in 1853. The commanding and medical officers in charge of the 

 garrison there, (comprising 14 officers, 391 men, 44 women and 70 

 children,) after consultation devised certain measures of a sanitary 

 nature such as are universally recommended, but a special feature in 

 their plan was to have the water closets watched by the non-commission- 

 ed officers, and whenever a man was discovered to visit them more than 

 once a day he was placed under medical treatment. 



In addition every man, woman, and child was inspected by a medical 

 officer at least once, and in the case of those who lodged outside the 

 barracks, in affected districts, twice a day. By this rigid system 

 diarrhoea was discovered and treated without a single life being lost, 

 the cases being more numerous than the whole strength of the force, 

 while of the population surrounding, the deaths amounted to 1500. 



For full details in this notable instance reference can be had to the 

 Report of a Commission appointed to inquire into the circumstances 

 connected with the outbreak and published by the Home Govern- 

 ment. 



In addressing Medical men on this subject it is scarcely necessary 

 to do more than allude to the principles that should regulate the 



