The Cholera Gazette, Vol. I. No. 5. Wednesday, August 8th, 1832.

The principal indication which M. Petit, one of the physicians of the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, proposes to himself to fulfil, in the treatment of cholera, is to keep up a constant impression upon the spinal marrow, and to change the phenomena of innervation. To effect this he places over the whole length of the spine a strip of flannel, wet with a liniment composed of an ounce of the essence of turpentine and a drachm of aqua ammonia, and passes slowly over it a very hot flat-iron. An instantaneous evaporation of a great part of the liniment results, which acts powerfully on the skin over the spine, and induces very speedily vesication. The heat returns to the skin, the cramps and vomitings disappear, the circulation is reëstablished, and the patient feels much better. The effects of this remedy are assisted by hot bricks to the limbs; by frictions to the body with a decoction of mustard, to which some aq. ammonia is added, and the patient is also made to drink copiously of balm and mint tea. A table-spoonful of the following potion is likewise given every hour:--℞. Aq. distil. Tilleæ Europeæ; aq. distil. melissæ, āā. ℥ij.; tinct. opii, gtt. xx.; syrup. ether. ℥j. M. Finally, the patient is rubbed all over with a liniment composed of camphorated oil of chamomile, ℥ij.; laudanum, ℨij.; liquid ammonia, ℨj.

M. Petit is said to have been more successful than most of his colleagues in the treatment of cholera. In a communication to the Academy of Medicine he states that under the above treatment two-thirds of his patients have recovered.

On Density of Population.

Density of population in cities becomes a matter of extreme importance connected with the visitations of pestilential diseases. A too crowded population may of itself engender a pestilence, and must inevitably aggravate one should it prevail from other causes. Hence the necessity which occasionally arises of thinning the inhabitants of certain districts--an exigency which, like that of war, often subverts civil authority, and demands the exercise of the most arbitrary power. We have recently seen our New York neighbours compelled to thin the population in some parts of their city, and we may yet be forced to have recourse to a similar measure. Upon this subject there are some interesting calculations furnished in Hazzard’s Register, (Vol. VIII. No. 5,) where may be found an interesting table, exhibiting the number of square feet in each ward of our city, together with the population at each census from 1790 to 1830, and the number of square feet to each inhabitant. From this table it appears that the increase in density of population throughout the city plot, has been in the following proportion during the forty years embraced in the estimate.

In 1790 there was 1 person to 1755 square feet. 1800 ” 1 ” 1216 1810 ” 1 ” 933 1820 ” 1 ” 986 1830 ” 1 ” 623

Viewing the wards separately, we find that, in 1830, there was one inhabitant to every 313 square feet of superficies in the eastern division, and one to 979 of the western.

Eastern Wards.

New Market ward had 1 to 236 Lower Delaware 1 243 Pine 1 248 Upper Delaware 1 318 Chesnut 1 341 Walnut 1 398 High 1 402 Dock 1 416 --- Average 313

In the western wards, where there is a large proportion of unoccupied ground, the density varies from 840 to 1354 square feet to each inhabitant--the average being 979.

The propriety of legislative enactments limiting the maximum density of population, and the space allowed to be occupied by buildings, so as to ensure sufficient ventilation, &c. seems to us to be manifest. We shall take a future opportunity of offering some further remarks on this subject.

Injection of Saline Solutions into the Veins.

(Continued from page 55.)

No. 4.

Letter from Dr. Lewins, to the Secretary of the Central Board of Health.

Results of the Injection Practice in the Drummond-street Cholera Hospital, Edinburgh.

SIR,--You will receive from Dr. Latta, the details of two or three cases treated by saline injections. We have both been so much occupied to-day, that we have not had leisure to get our communications ready to be sent in the same envelope. We steal an hour from the time usually allotted for rest to write to you. In case Dr. Latta should omit to mention the circumstance, I beg to mention that his patient, Cousins, the woman who was injected to the amount of three hundred and seventy-six ounces, and who promised to do well, for a considerable time, was a person of very dissipated habits.

In the Drummond-street hospital six patients have been injected, and three recovered, or are recovering. In the three that died, extensive organic disease was found on dissection; disease that had existed previously to the attack of cholera.

I send herewith the report of two cases, treated by Dr. Craigie of this place, which, at my request, he furnished me to-day for the perusal of the Board.

I intended to have sent an account of an interesting fatal case, the only one in which the venous injection may be said to have fairly failed where it was fairly used; that I shall do to-morrow.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant.

ROBERT LEWINS, M. D.

Leith, May 27th.

No. 5.

Details of Two Cases of Malignant Cholera treated by Venous Injection, by Dr. Craigie, of Leith.

_No. 1. Case successful. 15lbs. injected at intervals in nine hours._--Martha Smith, aged thirty-eight, a noted drunkard, thin and debilitated, in sixth month of pregnancy, admitted into the hospital at 8 P. M. May 16th, 1832.

It appears she had had vomiting and purging since Sunday morning, 12th inst. Cramps came on about four hours ago in both legs; great evacuations both upwards and downwards like dirty water. The countenance is now collapsed; eyes sunk; tongue cold; pulse imperceptible at wrists; very small in brachial artery; 124.

℞. Muriat sodæ, ℨiij; Carbon sodæ, ℨi; Aq. calid. ℔vj. solve. Ft. Enema statim injiciend. Sinapisms to spine and epigastrium; let her be placed on heated tin mattress.

Nine A. M. Has a good deal of vomiting; is getting warmer; pulse now perceptible in right wrist; tongue warmer; she allows the enema to come away without giving notice to nurse. Saline enema as above, with the addition of white of eggs, to be repeated every half hour.

Ten. Vomiting and purging of watery fluid, with slimy matter in it.

Half-past ten. Cramps have returned severe in left leg; pulse again imperceptible; urgent thirst, and constant vomiting. Rep. enema et pulveres effervescentes.

Half-past eleven. Breathing becoming much affected; extreme restlessness; cramps severe in legs, and every symptom of sinking. Let the following saline solution be injected into one of the veins of the arm.

℞. Muriat sodæ, ℨi; Carbon sodæ, gr. x; Aq. calid. ℔iij, solve temp. 105° Fahr.

Noon. When about ℔i. had been thrown in, the pulse was perceived to flutter at the wrist, and gradually strengthened as the injection was proceeded with. By the same ℔iiiss. had been injected, the countenance, which was before quite death-like, now beamed with the appearance of health, and she began to converse freely. Pulse 96, moderate. To have ℥i. gin in warm water with sugar.

Half-past one. The gin was immediately rejected. Pulse has again gradually become imperceptible, and respiration quick and laborious.

Two. Let the venous injection be repeated to ℔vij.

The effect of the injection, as formerly, was very striking. To see an individual who seemed in articulo mortis brought back, as it were, in so short a space of time to an apparently tolerable state of health, could not but astonish the beholder. Before the injection was finished the pulse had returned to a healthy fulness and firmness. Expresses herself much relieved; no purging, but vomits much serous matter.

℞. Muriat sodæ, ℨij; Carbon sodæ, ℨi; Alcohol. dilut. ℥i; Aq. calid. ℔iij. M. ft. enema statim injiciend.

Four. Enema retained about an hour and a half; surface of body now comfortably warm; she has not passed more fluid by stool than was thrown into the rectum.

Six. Has slept softly for an hour; the first sleep she has had for many days.

℞. Subm. hydrarg. gr. v; Pulv. opii, gr. ss. M. sumat stat. et rep. 3tia quaque hora.