LARYNGOLOGICAL AND RESPIRATORY DISORDERS.—In asthma the use of the nitrate in 3- or 4-grain doses has been highly commended.
In pulmonary tuberculosis, when the bronchial secretion was scanty and viscid, E. Maragliano obtained good results from the use of the following, as a spray: So dium bicarbonate, 15 to 30 grains; mu riate of morphine, grain; distilled water, ounces.
In pulmonary haemorrhage the admin istration of dry salt is a popular remedy.
In capillary and other haemorrhages lieverdin claims that 2-grain doses of the sulphate every hour are of great value. It must be given by mouth or intrave nously, not hypodermically, as it is then useless.
Sulphate of soda as a styptic is espe cially useful in cases of epistaxis, of metrorrhagia, of capillary hnmoptysis, and in the hremorrhagie diathesis. It seems to act like calcium chloride, by increasing the rapidity with which the blood clots, and its styptic action is equally well marked, whether it be given by the mouth or by intravenous injec tion. Its administration hypodermically into the subcutaneous tissue does not give the same result. The dose is Ph grains every hour until the bleeding stops. Reverdin (Revue Mod. de la Suisse Rom., Jan. 20, '97).
In severe haemorrhage with threatened collapse, the use of normal salt solution by intravenous injection is indicated.
In acute tonsillitis, catarrhal condi tions, bronchitis, etc., the bicarbonate in solution may be combined with barn amelis, belladonna, or other remedial agent.
The early stages of coryza in an adult of medium size and weight may be sue cessfully treated by 20 to 30 grains of the bicarbonate of soda given in 2 or 3 ounces of water, every half-hour, for three doses, and a fourth dose at the ex piration of an hour from the last one. Two to four hours are then allowed to elapse, that the effect may be seen, and the four doses are repeated if there seems to be necesSity, as is frequently the case. After waiting two to four hours: more the same course may be taken again. To be promptly effective it should be begun with the earliest indi cations of coryza and sneezing, when it rarely fails to break up the cold, even in persons much inelined to "colds." Bulk ley (Medical Record. Jan. IS, W).
In affections of the throat and fauces the chlorate is better and safer than the potash salt. It has also been recom mended in epithelioma of the mucous membrane of these organs.
All kinds of tonsillitis treated with gargles of sodium salieylate: to 2 draehms (6 to S grammes) in 5 to 6 ounces (150 to ISO cubic centimetres) of peppermint-water. The average dura tion of the disease under this treatment in personal cases was four days: the temperature soon declined, the pain in the throat and the difficulty in degluti tion disappeared rapidly, and in no case did an abscess form. Chevalier (Min.
therap. Wochen.. No. 2. 1901).
In malignant sore throat and diph theria the solution of chlorinated soda to 2 drachms in water, 4 to 8 ounces) has been used as a gargle. The sulphite in solution (1 to 8) is an excellent rem edy employed as a gargle, spray, or local application; the same salt is also used internally in combination with sulphur and calomel.
Solutions of the bicarbonate are ex tensively used in catarrhal conditions to soften and remove dried secretions and thickened mucus. Dobell's solution (so dium bicarbonate and borax, of each, 2 drachms; carbolic acid, 24 grains; glycerin, 14 drachms; water, 1 pint) is largely used for this purpose. E. Pyn chon advises the following as better: Sodium bicarbonate and borax, of each, 2 ounces; listerin, S ounces; glycerin, 1 pints; of this add 1 ounce to 1 pint of water. This is a bland, pleasant, alkaline solution having about the same specific gravity as the blood (1.015).
G vxa:coLoolcAL AND DIS ORDERS.—Leucorrhcea, when dependent upon an increased secretion of the cer vical glands, yields to injections of a weak solution (1 to 96) of the bicar bonate. This secretion is strongly alka line, and is checked on the general prin ciple that alkalies check alkaline secre tions.
In the palliative treatment of cancer of the uterus, Boucher, of Rouen (Then. Woch., Aug. 16, '96), prescribes the fol lowing: Sodium chlorate, 2 parts; syrup of orange-flowers, 3 parts; distilled water, 10 parts; of this two "spoonfuls" are to be taken during the day at first and then gradually increased to S "spoonfuls." The following powder is applied on in tracervical tampons: Sodium chlorate and bismuth nitrate, of each, 2 parts; iodcform, 1 part. In addition the vagina is irrigated daily with a solution of 150 grains of sodium chlorate in a quart of boiled water. This method of treatment is claimed to prolong life, in many cases, for a year, and make it reasonably toler able.
In puerperal metritis the solution of chlorinated soda (1 part to 10 or 12 of water) has been used as an antiseptic injection. In the same strength it may be used as a vaginal douche when the lochial discharge becomes foetid. It is also a useful injection in simple and gonorrhoeal vaginitis.
In threatened collapse from post partum hremorrhage or haemorrhage from placenta praevia, intravenous injections and intraperitoneal infusion of normal salt solution must not be forgotten.