Among those who have given favourable accounts of their experience, may be mentioned Prof. Burgraeve of Ghent, in Belgium; Dr. De Ricci, of Dublin, who published two papers on the subject; Dr. Constants Paul in France; Dr. Cummings, of Cork, who found the treatment useful in scarlatina; Dr. Fisher and Dr. W. H. Baxter, of this country, the former of whom wrote a report on the subject, with his favourable experience, which was published in the Transactions of the American Medical Association for 1805, and the latter had great success in treating with this remedy our ordinary miasmatic fever; and, besides Dr. Polli, a large number of Italian physicians, who have borne strong testimony in support of the soundness of his views.

From the reports sent to Dr. Polli by his Italian colleagues, it appears that pyaemia or purulent infection, and septicaemia, have been treated with advantage. in miasmatic fevers, the sulphites are considered on the whole as a more reliable remedy than quinia; curing a larger number, out of hundreds of cases in which they had been employee, and curing them more completely, with less tendency to return. Sometimes the two combined were successful, where both separately used had failed. Of the sulphite of magnesia from an ounce to an ounce and a half was given, in divided doses, in 24 hours, in water sweetened and aromatized, or in the form of confection; and the salt was continued through the paroxysm as well as in the apyrexia. The remedy did not cut short the disease like quinia; but the patient began to improve in from three to five days. As a prophylactic in malarial disease, a solution of the hyposulphite of soda was used, containing in ten parts of water about eight parts of the salt, and two or three of tincture or essence of anise, of which two small tablespoonfuls were given every morning, the patient fasting. The experience of the Italian physicians in this disease is fully supported by that of our countryman, Dr. W. H. Baxter, of Iowa, who treated more than 100 cases of the milder forms of the fever by the hyposulphite of soda alone; and in no case did a paroxysm recur after the remedy had been used a reasonable length of time. He gave the salt in doses of 15 grains. (Am. Journ. of Med. Sci., Oct. 1866, p. 584.)

To continue with the reports of the Italian physicians; of the exanthemata and typhus, the report embraced 37 cases of scarlet fever, smallpox, erysipelas, and typhus; and the general result was that the intensity of the disease was mitigated, cases of small-pox that threatened to be malignant became mild, and in all cases, convalescence was accelerated. Dr. Polli thinks that the remedy will be available in yellow fever, cholera, and the plague. He also recommends it as a prophylacti serious surgical operations, and in bad cases of labour; the patient be put on the daily use of the sulphite, to be continued till the danger is passed.

Administration

The weight of testimony, in the choice of the sulphites and hyposulphites, appears to be in favour of the sulphite of magnesia for administration by the mouth, and the sulphite of soda in solution as a local application. For internal use, from 15 grains to a drachm may be given of either of the sulphites, repeated so as to amount to from two drachms to an ounce in 24 hours, dissolved, or, in the instance of the magnesian salt, suspended in water, which may be sweetened, and rendered less unpalatable by aromatic additions. As all acids decompose the sulphites, liberating the sulphurous acid, great care must be taken to avoid all sour substances at the time of exhibiting the medicine; and if there is reason to suppose that acid exists in the stomach, it should be neutralized by magnesia before administering the sulphite. To produce the desired effect it must remain in the saline condition, in order to enter the blood. The acid liberated in the stomach is soon converted by oxidation into sulphuric acid, and can be of no use. Failures with the remedy may, sometimes, perhaps, have resulted from a neglect of this precaution. The eructation of sulphurous acid at the time of administering it would indicate the probable existence of acid in the stomach. if the salt disturb the bowels, a little opium or one of its preparations should be given to correct this effect. it is said that the hyposulphite of soda is much more purgative than the sulphites of soda and of magnesia, which are rather diuretic than cathartic. The sulphites are also preferable to the hyposulphites, where a rapid effect is desired, as they are more susceptible of the changes which are probably essential to their effect in the blood.

The long-continued use of these salts is said to be injurious, inducing a debilitated and anemic state of the system, possibly caused, as has been suggested, by a too rapid deoxidation. {Med. Times and Gaz., May, 1866, p. 475.) in all constitutional affections attended with local disease, as wounds, ulcers, suppurative surfaces, etc., the remedy is employed both generally and locally; for the latter, sulphite of soda being preferably used, in consequence of its ready solubility. A solution containing one part of the salt to five or ten parts of water, should be applied over the whole diseased surface by means of compresses wet with it. in sinuous, ulcerous, and diseased passages, as of the ear, nostrils, etc., it is to be injected. Sometimes glycerin is added to the solution with supposed advantage. The powdered salt has been occasionally preferred; being sprinkled on the diseased surface. in indolent ulcers, the sulphites of magnesia and lime are recommended as somewhat caustic.