THE ABORTIVE TREATMENT OF CHOLERA. 171 



The same preparation has been used in cholera as long ago as 1848, 

 but the object in prescribing it was with a view to its styptic effect : 

 to retard the excessive secretion of approaching collapse. 



Subsequently, the per-nitrate of iron (the persesquinitrate of Kerr} 

 being introduced as a remedy in diarrhoea, was recommended, by 

 some, in cholera, as likely to be useful. It does not appear that any 

 other preparation than the tincture of the sesquichloride was ever 

 used largely ; but those who have used it extol it very highly. From 

 its tonic and antiseptic powers, and its being easily obtained, it is. 

 likely to prove highly beneficial in those early stages of disease where 

 an anticatalytic would be indicated. In cases where there is debility 

 more or less marked, this remedy alone, or combined with Quinine, 

 would appear entitled to favour. 



Another remedy of the class of anticatalytics is the Hyposulphite 

 of Soda. In Sarcina ventriculi, its efficacy in preventing the usual 

 fermentive process is undoubted ; and, by analogy, it might be used 

 in the incipient stage of cholera ; but it does not appear to have been 

 introduced in this way. Although the alkaline permanganates, which 

 are said to possess the power of antagonising organic poisons, have 

 been recommended in cases of poisoning by Strychnia, Veratica, Hy- 

 drocyanic acid, and others of that class, it does not appear that they 

 have been used in zymotic diseases, other than typhoid fever and 

 scarlatina, and little is known of their effects, beneficial or otherwise. 



The bisulphite of soda has been used, in medicine, as an anticataly- 

 tic, by Professor PolH, of Milan, and Dr. Mapother, Health Officer 

 of Dublin ; and Dr. DeRicci, of the latter city, relates four cases of 

 catalytic diseases, as he prefers to call them, rather than zymotic, in 

 which the Bisulphite appears to have accomplished what was expec- 

 ted of it by the original proposer. Prof. Polli. In a case of infection 

 from an animal poison, DeRicci gave to a lady one scruple of the 

 Bisulphite, in infusion of Quassia, with tincture of bitter orange-peel, 

 and a little Battley's solution. This dose, repeated every hour at 

 first, was given less frequently afterwards. In other cases — two of 

 them being severe ones of measles — the same salt was depended on, 

 and rapid recovery followed. 



In incipient cholera, a recipe containing the Bisulphite in scruple 

 doses, with a bitter tincture, and some opiate, where diarrhoea may 

 exist, would, probably, be satisfactory treatment — especially in those 

 cases where the individual cannot leave an infected district. Dr." De- 



