5664. Treatment for the Stage of Malignancy

5664.     Treatment for the Stage of Malignancy. According to Dr. Pratt, the only remedy is stimulants, especially brandy, which must be given with great freedom, from 2 to 4 tea-spoonfuls every half or even quarter hour, till heat returns, and pulse and sensibility of extremities are restored. It is always to be given undiluted. Alcohol, or other spirits, will answer the purpose, if brandy is not to be had. It will be necessary to combine with this, artificial heat, bottles of hot water to the body and extremities, friction of the limbs (which no one need fear to apply), and mustard, perhaps, to the feet and hands, stomach and limbs. Remember that boldness, to the verge of rashness, is better than excess of caution, and that no danger is to be apprehended from any of these remedies so long as the symptoms for which they are given are uncontrolled. The use of cold water must be strictly forbidden, except merely to gargle the throat; a very small quantity, swallowed, will bring on the diarrhea after it has been stopped for hours. A little water of gum-arabic may be allowed, a tea-spoonful at a time; or, perhaps, lumps of ice might be taken with safety. For the typhoid fever, which often follows an attack, chamomile or sage tea, and diaphoretic (see No. 5134) treatment, will be all that is needed, beside a moderate use of stimulants, for convalescence.

5665. Cholera Preventive

5665.     Cholera Preventive. A Burgundy-pitch plaster worn over the region of the stomach during the prevalence of the disease. It should be warmed a little before it is put on, the person standing erect when it is applied, so that the plaster shall not interfere with the motions of the body. It is asserted that a British regiment supplied with such plasters lost only five men during a severe visitation of cholera, and these had refused to wear then. The efficacy of this preventive is also corroborated by other well-authenticated evidence.

5666. Neutralizing Mixture

5666.     Neutralizing Mixture. Powdered rhubarb, 3 scruples; saleratus, or crude bicarbonate of potash, 3 scruples; powdered peppermint plant, 3 scruples; boiling water, 1/2 pint; decoction of aniseed, 1/2 pint. Mix. Strain, sweeten with sugar, and add 3 table-spoonfuls of brandy. Take 1 or 2 table-spoonfuls as often as the symptoms re- quire it. For children, a less dose. Very valuable in cholera, bowel complaints of children, laxity of the bowels, flux, etc..

5667. Spackman's Cholera Mixture

5667.    Spackman's Cholera Mixture. Take 1 ounce gum camphor; 2 ounces gum kino; 1/2 ounce gum catechu; 2 ounces ground cinnamon; 1 ounce ground cloves; 2 drachms African capsicums. Moisten these with brandy and digest for 48 hours. Displace (see No. 41 (To obtain Tinctures by Displacement or Percolation)) 18 ounces; then add 20 drachms tincture of opium and 1 ounce chloroform. Dose for an adult, 60 drops after every passage.