On the antidotal treatment of the epidemic cholera / by John Parkin.

  • Parkin, John, 1801-1886.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the antidotal treatment of the epidemic cholera / by John Parkin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    that state, in spite of the number or diminution of the other symptoms.] “ When this is the case (i. e., when collapse has supervened), the employment of Carbonic acid gas produces wonderful effects,—administered according to the method of Dr. John Parkin (an honorary fellow of this Academy), either in combination with water, or, as you may say, by forming the gaseous acidulated wa- ters, obtained by the decomposition of the bi-carbonates of potash or soda, by means of the citric or tartaric acids. This treatment should be continued even in the state of complete and confirmed collapse, on account of its being the most efficacious and direct of all the plans that have been tried—and it is certain that, if it is used at the com- mencement, and the patients do not neglect to call the medical attendant, after the disease has once manifested itself, there will be few who come to this state of atrophy and wretchedness. As auxiliaries, blisters may be em- ployed, and enemas of starch or linseed, and, for the cramps, frictions wfith common oil, either with or without laudanum ; or, what is better, with assafoetida and camphor dissolved in vinegar.” After a few more cursory remarks on some unimportant subjects, as the allowance of cold water, the treatment of the febrile stage, etc., the writers conclude their report in these words:—“The commis- sion, in giving this opinion, has endeavoured, without any other object than the truth and the future progress of science, to reject every doubtful and fanciful theory, which leads only to error, and which might be perpetuated, if, through delicacy and ill-judged consideration, it had re- mained silent. The commission has made it a duty to conform entirely to this fundamental axiom, that facts, well attested and separated from all theory, are, in the treatment of disease, the only durable acquisitions.” Signed : Juan Francisco de Bahi, President.