THE ABORTIVE TREATMENT OF CHOLERA. 173 



comparatively safe, though statistics are wanting in regard to them. 

 It has long heen said that the atmosphere of tanneries is prophylactic 

 against the disease, and the same is said of the vicinity of gas-vrorks. 

 In the latter case the evolution of carbolic acid in a gaseous form 

 from the tarry products of the distillation of coal, may account for 

 the immunity enjoyed, carbolic acid being a very effectual disinfectant, 

 but in the former instance the reason is not apparent. Very re- 

 cently, it is urged, by continental professors, that carbolic acid and its 

 preparations are destructive to the cholera-poison, -while chlorine com- 

 pounds are not so, but are, nevertheless, useful in their place, from 

 their power of removing offensive odours. 



It may not be amiss to observe that, in the same vicinity, elevated 

 spots are more safe than low ones, and upper apartments of the same 

 house than the lower rooms. These considerations should have their 

 influence in relation to the prophylaxy and treatment of the disease. 



In the same connection it may be observed that when an outbreak 

 occurs a "privy atmosphere" is especially noxious. Every thing 

 that can be done to prevent and neutralize emanations from human 

 excreta, both in-doors and out, should be attended to, and the order- 

 ing of the domestic use of safe disinfectants, by practitioners, in the 

 houses of their patients, whether disease be present or not, is a great 

 means to this end. 



In houses where the disease exists every excretion, and all soiled 

 clothes, should be at once disposed of ; the former be received into 

 vessels containing some disinfectant and then buried, and the latter 

 at once soused in water containing some carbolic acid or its prepara- 

 tions, or some permanganate of potass, as in the cholera disinfectant 

 made in this city, or its kindred preparation, Condy's red fluid. 



The latrines used by the healthy must not be contaminated by the 

 discharges from the sick, and the nurses and attendants must be fully- 

 instructed as to the proper modes of disposing of all excreta and soiled 

 clothing. 



In approaching the subject of the treatment of the more decided 

 stages of cholera, I shall adopt the usual mode, and speak of them 

 as the period of invasion or confirmed cholera, the blue or cold stage, 

 or stage of collapse, and the stage of reaction or consumptive fever. 



The stage of invasion usually occurs in the night or early morning* 

 its more usual symptoms are well known, nausea, vomiting, emptying 

 of the intestinal tube, indescribable faintness or sinking, peculiar rise, 



