Volume 1

Napheys' Modern therapeutics, medical and surgical : including the diseases of women and children a compendium of recent formulae and therapeutical directions from the practice of eminent contemporary physicians, American and foreign / [edited by Allen J. Smith and J. Aubrey Davis].

  • Napheys, George H. (George Henry), 1842-1876
Date:
1892-1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Napheys' Modern therapeutics, medical and surgical : including the diseases of women and children a compendium of recent formulae and therapeutical directions from the practice of eminent contemporary physicians, American and foreign / [edited by Allen J. Smith and J. Aubrey Davis]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    monotonous, distressing motion, apparently unaware of what it is doing, and at intervals uttering short, sharp cries. Even at an early stage it is frequently the case that the child shows its irritability by a peculiar cry, which, once heard, is apt to impress the attentive physician as the herald of some dangerous complication. Epidemics of this disease differ in many ways. In some it seems to assume a very acute form, so that the majority of deaths occur within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. In others it is more chronic though not less fatal, and the case may be prolonged for several days or a week. When the special symptoms abate, the disease be- comes nothing more than a diarrhoea, but attended with great debility. The differential diagnosis between this and similar diseases of chil- dren is made by the peculiarity of the stools—thin, watery, soon be- coming colorless and odorless, or musty, irritability of stomach, great thirst, rapid emaciation, etc. The correct treatment of cholera infantum is of great importance, as thus a large number of cases may be saved which appear at first hopeless. The most prominent symptoms imperatively demanding immedi- ate relief, are the irritable stomach and the exhausting evacuations. To relieve the one and arrest the other, therefore, will be the pri- mary indication. For the first, the persistent vomiting, the exhibi- tion of small doses of calomel, say one-twelfth to one-sixth of a grain, repeated every hour, will almost invariably suffice. It will be best given, placed dry on the tongue and washed down with a sup of milk, or some bland, mucilaginous drink. Frequently, this so' speedily relieves that the whole scene is changed, and often the di- arrhoea is equally checked. In this connection, it must be remembered that rest in the recum- bent position is of great value, and this should be strongly impressed upon the attendants, who, by their mistaken though kindly-meant treatment of the child, materially aid in keeping up a condition which is rapidly carrying it to the grave. When the calomel fails, the use of small doses of dilute sulphuric acid will often serve to put an end to the vomiting: 1417. Acidi sulphurici dil., gtt. xl Syr. simplicis, f. § j Aq. menthce viridis, f. § ij, ]y[. S.—One teaspoonful every half hour or hour.