YANDELL on Spasmodic Cholera.



bly check the discharges, or allay the vomiting. These were
only relieved by the operation of the calomel.
  In spite of our remedies, though given on the accession of
the first symptoms, the disease very often ran on into this
stage. Under these circumstances there was always cause
to apprehend the near approach of collapse, and hence it was
important to arrest it as speedily as possible. And as my
chief reliance was upon calomel, I gave it always in increas-
ed doses-from 60 to 120 grains, and repeated it according
to circumstances,every two or three hours. A frequent le-
petition was, however, not often demanded, the patient be-
ing either relieved or dead in a few hours after the access of
this stage. In a few cases I repeated the emetic at this
juncture, before administering calomel, with the effect of
relieving the spasms.
  By this course 1 generally succeeded, and my confidence
in it is such, that under the same circumstances, I should re-
sort to it again. As I kept no register of cases, I can only
state the result of my practice in general terms, and I may
add that where I failed, it was generally because application
had been too long delayed, or from age, or other infirmity
the patient sunk under the attack before medicine could
make an impression. This statement is made, without any
disposition to boast, as a part of the history of the epidemic
of which I am writing. The disease would be more appall
ing than it is, if the resources of our art, timely applied, did
not generally give relief. But owing to the causes specified
-the negligence, or ignorance, or feebleness of too many
of the subjects of the disease, a number were far gone in
collapse, and some in articulo mortis, before I saw them.
   In addition to the remedies already mentioned, I generally
directed mustard poultices to the extremities, where they
were disposed to grow cold. It was also necessary to employ
rubbing when there were spasms. If vomiting existed,
mustard was likewise applied over the epigastrium, and laud-
anum given, or ice, or iced water, or lemonade, which I
believe was more effectual than the opiate  It was a



15