On the curative effect of carbonic acid gas or other forms of carbon in cholera, for different forms of fever, and other diseases / by C.J. Lewis.

  • Lewis, C. J. (Charles James), 1875-1937.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On the curative effect of carbonic acid gas or other forms of carbon in cholera, for different forms of fever, and other diseases / by C.J. Lewis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Parkin recommends similar treatment witli carbonic acid gas, one is not in a position to affirm that there is any solid ground for the treatment. As to most of these diseases, I liave no research results Ijy which to judge the question. In the case of typhoid fever, however, I can confidently state from my experiments, supported as they are hy those of Saljrazes and Bazin, that there is no reason whatever to believe that carljonic acid gas lias any deleterious or bactericidal influence on the Bacillus typhosus. Nor lias it any toxic effect on Bacillus coli communis, such as might influence the course of those anomalous cases of fever which are sometimes attributed to the assumption by Bacillus coli communis of pathogenetic properties. Other Diseases.—Diphtheria also is not a disease in which carbonic acid gas is likely to be of any use. The diphtheria bacillus appears to thrive uncommonly well even in large amounts of carbonic acid. Among other diseases in which carbonic acid gas has been recommended whooping-cough takes a foremost place. For this disease Bergeon first recommended its use, and Norton has more recently described excellent results which in his hands the remedy has produced. It is fair to say that others, having tried the gas, report that they have observed no good effects. linse advocates the use of the gas in the form of rectal injections, not only in whooping-cough, but also in cases of dysentery. In both these diseases and in some others he belie^'es the gas to be of great service. With regard to dysentery, he thus confirms the observations of Parkin, who specially commends carbonic acid gas in the treatment of this complaint, wlietlier it be in the acute or chronic stages. With regard to this and other diseases, I have no experimental evidence to offer, and therefore restrict my reference to a brief mention of the above opinions. It would serve no useful purpose to give in more detail isolated instances of the therapeutic use of caibonic acid gas, as e.g., in vaginitis, in the vomiting of pregnancy, or in impotence, since in none of these diseases is bacteriological evidence from my laboratory experiments available. Other Form.s of Carbon. Chareoal.—Tliere is no evidence revealed in the course of my experi- ments wliich supports in any way the theory that charcoal has any deleterious or bactericidal influence either on the VilDrio cholerte, the Bacillus typhosus, or the Bacillus coli communis. On the contrary, I Ijelieve it to be incapable of destroying these organisms, and devoid of curative properties in the diseases associated with them. Naphtha.—This drug is not specially inimical to the Vibrio cholera?, but, on tlie otlier hand, it is powerfully destructive to the typhoid bacillus. There is no reason to suppose that its use in cholera would materially affect the eomma Ijacilli. It is tlierefore not surprising to find Widal stating tliat P>ouchard ha<l tried witliout success to disinfect the intestine in chffiera cases witli naphtha, althougli lie iirescribed it in doses wliich he had already found effectual for that purpose in cases of typhoid fever. Creosote.—There is more ])ossibility of this (Irug being useful in cholera, for even small ]K!rcentages of creosote suffice to inhibit growth of the Vibrio cholent*. Nevertheless, it is not possible to say that creosote owes this quality to the amount of carbon in its composition.