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The Recent Outbreak of CholeraAuthor(s): Edwin BishopSource: Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1844-1852), Vol. 15, No. 21 (Oct. 15, 1851), p.585Published by: BMJStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25493140 .

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THE RECENT OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA.?THE SALE OF LAUDANUM. 58a

I have not, however, ventured to use it as a collyrium, for fear of the deposit of lead affecting the transparency of the cornea.

In chronic cutaneous diseases, the most remarkable

instance of its efficacy has been afforded in a case of

eruption, of a kind of rupia or impetigo of five years' standing. The complaint broke out on the vertex of a

woman, aged 50, and, leaving its original site, it has

gradually crept down over the forehead, nose, and

cheeks, to the level of the mouth. The primary form

of the eruption consists of inflamed flattened pustules slightly elevated above the surrounding skin, which

discharging their contents, form thick, rough, yellowish crusts, or scabs, fissured in all directions, like those of

crusta lactea, which, firmly adhering and growing from

their; base, like rupia, for a longer or shorter time, fall

off at last, leaving cicatrices of various shapes, exactly like the seams and pits of small-pox. The patient came under my care some months ago, when I tried

many remedies, both internal and external, in vain,

quinine being the only one that produced any good effect, and this not,permanently. As the skin around the sores and where they had healed seemed in a state of hypertrophy, the papillae projecting in many places as in elephantiasis, it occurred to me that the best way to check the progress of the disease would be to apply some penetrating astringent to the surface; and with

this view I ordered a lotion of the nitrate of lead, with quinine internally. In the course of a few days the eruption ceased to make any progress, the crusts

began to fall off, and the skin to lose its redness and

swelling; and in a fortnight every sore was healed,

though the face and forehead remained still seamed

With scars. There has been no fresh breaking out for some weeks, though, as the nose is still red and swelled, I have ordered the continuance of the lotion.

The formula I generally use is the following:? R. Plumbi. Carb., ser. j.; Acid. Nitr. dil. q. s. ad.

solvendum; Aqua?, dist., lb. j., M. Fiat. Lotio bis

terre indies assidu uienda.

In the above case the lead was increased to half a

drachm. The best test for the degree of strength of

the lotion is the production of a slight smarting, which soon subsides. In the hope that the merits of this

preparation will become readily known to, and fully tested by the members of our Association, I request the

favour of the insertion of the above-mentioned particu lars in the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, and remain, Sir,

Your obedient Servant, T. OGIER WARD.

Kensington, Sept. 18, 1851.

THE RECENT OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA.

To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal,

Sir,?In one of the daily papers some little time

ago, (about the middle of August), I saw a paragraph copied from a Birmingham paper, containing an

account of reported cholera in that town, calculated to

give rise to unnecessary alarm. About the period

I alluded to, I had the charge of a district of the Green wich Union for about three weeks, the weather for a

! few days was unusually depressing, and several cases of

aggravated "

English cholera" came under my notice. Some assuming many of the characters of the epidemic of 1849, and which I dare say were closely allied to the cases reported at Birmingham. One night, in par ticular, I was called to two cases, in a very filthy

locality. I found both parties suffering with the

following symptoms:?Constant diarrhoea; vomiting; cramp of the abdomen and lower extremities; pulse

scarcely perceptible at the wrist; skin cold; voice

husky; and thin watery evacuations, with scarcely any odour. These symptoms soon subsided under the treatment of calomel and opium, brandy, astringents, and hot applications.

During the epidemic of 1849, I had the charge of a

district of the West London Union, where cholera raged as badly, or I may say worse, than in any part of the city. I believe I witnessed nearly 1,000 cases, a considerable

number of the most aggravated form; but I must

confess I did not see the disease cut short in one

instance after it had assumed the symptoms above

described. At that period, too, I had the advantage of the

advice of several leading physicians connected with the

hospitals; all were desirous of testing their favourite

remedies, but I am not yet persuaded that the sufferers were much benefitted by the various means resorted to.

It appeared to me if the patients' constitution was

pretty good, and the locality favourable, there was some

fain hope that he might " weather it," to use a familiar

expression. It is my opinion that the disease recognized in this country as cholera, or "

English cholera," has

assumed, since the epidemic of 1849, many symptoms

closely allied to the Asiatic, but that the disease widely differs in severity, real character, and result.

I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,

EDWIN BISHOP. September 8, 1851.

UNRESTRICTED SALE OF LAUDANUM.

To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal,

Sir,?If the subject I am about to mention appears to you of sufficient importance to be inserted in the

Journal, I shall feel much obliged by your bringing it in that way under the notice of the Association, or in any way you think proper.

The use-of opium for its intoxicating effects, is

becoming daily more general among the humble but

useful classes of society, and the ease with which it is

obtained from the retailing chemist and druggists, tends

to propagate the mischief. Only two days ago my attention was directed to one among very many instan

ces that have occurred to me, by my good neighbour Mr. Sweet, (a member of our Association,) who showed

me a. pint of laudanum, with the name of the chemist

from whom it had been purchased, at Birmingham, for

two shillings and eightpence. It is true, "

poison" was

marked on the label, but this frightful quantity was

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