H.—46

1892. NEW ZEALAND.

CHOLERA AND MODE OF TREATING IT (NOTES WITH REFERENCE TO).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Seddon, ivith the Leave of the House.

WHEN CHOLEBA IS EBIDEMIC Avoid eating any green vegetables or much fruit. Never use strong purgatives—those which are •called saline, such as Epsom salts. Castor oil should not under any circumstances be administered. Cholera is curable in its early stages, but this stage is not frequently noticed owing to ignorance of its symptoms. These are :— / 1. Disinclination for food. 2. Sense of depression and fatigue. 3. Feeling of relaxation, sometimes pains and cramps in the bowels. ~ , .' -~ ~ , I 4. One loose motion (perhaps only one) followed by others, each i ulse quite clistmcw mQre looge thaQ the preceding _ 5. Nausea at stomach. 6. Vomiting, first of contents of stomach, afterwards of a colourless k watery fluid. Any one or two of these symptoms, when cholera is committing its ravages in a district or city, •should be looked upon with suspicion, and the remedy taken. Symptoms 2, 3, and 5 are difficult to perceive in children; in them, a contracted appearance of the features, and darkness under the ■eyes, in addition to the purging and the vomiting, ought to give suspicion of cholera. BEMEDIES. External. —As early as possible a very large mustard poultice, having mixed with ie a heaped teaspoonful of powdered red pepper, to be placed across the small of the back so as to be over each kidney, and to be kept on at least one hour for an adult male. Internal. —(1.) For an adult accustomed to take several glasses of wine or beer daily. Bum or brandy ... ... ... ... ... 2 wineglassfuls. Bed pepper... ... ... ... ... ... 4 grains (2 pinches). Laudanum ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 drops. (2.) For an adult unaccustomed to any stimulant (male or female). Bum or brandy ... ... ... ... ... 1 wineglassful. Bed pepper ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 grains. Laudanum ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 drops. (3.) At fourteen years of age. Bum or brandy ... ... ... ... ... \ wineglassful. Bed pepper ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 grain. Laudanum. ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 drops. (4.) At six to eight years. Bum or brandy ... ... ... ... ... 1 dessertspoonful. Bed pepper... ... ... .. ... ... -J grain. Laudanum ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 drops. (5.) At two to five years. Brandy ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 teaspoonful. Feppermint-oil ... ... ... ... ... 1 or 2 drops. Laudanum ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 drops. The above doses to be mixed with a wineglassful to a tumblerful of as hot water as can be ■swallowed, and the whole to be taken at once. It is essential that the patient keep quiet in bed, and in a darkened room.