YANDELL on Spasmodic Cholera.



of rousing the action of the heart, and rendering the opera-
tion of other remedies more certain.
  Convalescence in most instances has been slowrthe dis-
ease conforming, in this respect, to the character which it
assumed after invading Europe. In Asia, it is stated by
writers, that persons who survived an attack recovered rap.
idly and completely. Patients here, after the -disease was
subdued, remained feeble and without appetite, for a number
of days, oreven weeks;andinsomecasesfeverfollowed. Great
care was necessary to prevent relapses, of which undue exer-
cise, and exposure to the sun were the most frequent causes.
The use of fruit,and indigestible food produced the same effect.
But the former had but little agency in bringing on the dis-
ease, in the first instance, so far as my observation extended.
Children, who in spite of the vigilance of parents would
now and then obtain it, pretty uniformly escaped; and many
adult persons who indulged themselves freely in the same
way, remained quite healthy throughout the prevalence of
the epidemic.
  The treatment of the consecutive symptoms was necessa-
rily various. In some cases, a recurrence to the remedies
first employed was necessary; in others, brandy, opium, or
some other astringent relieved the diarrhcea; and where fever
came on, it was treated as such.
  If there are those who will question the propriety of emetics
in cholera, more perhaps, will doubt the necessity of giving calo-
mel in so large a quantity. I can only state the views which
lead me to the adoption of the practice, and the results attend-
ing it, leaving others to pursue or reject it, as it may be sanc-
tioned by their principles or experience. In the cases of the
disease which fell under my care during the last season, I
had an opportunity of trying the effects of the different
methods of cure. To the first patient who applied tome
with clearly marked symptoms of cholera, I gave 20 grains
of calomel and one of opium, and had the mortification, af-
ter waiting six hours on its operation, during which time he
had but two discharges, to see him seized with spasms and



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