PFIENIC ACID.) In the treatment of children where an antacid is required and constipation is present, the bicarbonate is better than lime-water.
In yeasty vomiting, especially when sarcinw are present in the vomited mat ters, the sulphite is often curable in doses of from 5 to 20 grains. The vom iting due to acid fermentation of starches and sugars is relieved by the sulphite in doses of from 20 to GO grains; sulphur ous acid, in doses of from 5 to GO minims well diluted, is, however, better.
In gastric indigestion the use of the chloride is followed by good results. The chloride combines with lactic acid in the stomach, forming lactate of sodium and liberating nascent hydrochloric acid, which acts not only by but by increasing the production of pep sin from the pepsinogen of the gastric tubules. The usual dose for this pur pose is from 10 to 20 grains.
In acid dyspepsia relief will follow the use of the bicarbonate taken a half-hour to an hour after meals. The following mixture is a good one: Sodium bicar bonate, 3 7, drachms; tinctures of ginger and of capsicum, of each, 1 drachm; tincture of nux vomica, 3 i/o drachms; compound tincture of gentian, sufficient to make 5 ounces; of this a dessertspoon ful may be taken, an hour after meals.
In catarrhal jaundice the bicarbonate combined with rhubarb is especially use ful; the official mixture of rhubarb and soda may be given.
In chronic hepatic affections good re sults have followed the use of the solu tion of chlorinated soda, in doses of from '/, to 2 drachms, diluted in from 4 to S ounces of water.
In constipation the sulphate is rarely used in human beings, though largely in veterinary practice, as it is one of the most irritant of the saline purges, pro ducing large, watery stools with consid erable griping. The purgative dose is from 7., to 1 ounce. Its use is contra indicated if any intestinal inflammation be present. It is one of the constituents of Carlsbad, Hunyadi, and similar waters.
In the impending collapse of cholera, and in that following severe hwmorrhages as well, intravenous injections of the chloride in solution (93 grains to 1 quart of sterilized water at 100° F.: "normal salt solution") have been used as a prophylactic and restorative agent.
In intestinal infections of children at the breast a solution jected under the skill of the abdomen, in quantities not exceeding in all 30 snide centimetres in the twenty-four hours. almarently stimulated the entire system by increasing the blood-pressure and raising the temperature. The treat ment seems to be indicated in infec tious enteritis with hypothermy. and in chronic eases with loss of strength and low temperature, but it has no effect on the diarrhwa, general nutrition, or any of the pluminnena other than those of collapse. Ilarbier ISem. M(1., p.
'11d).
In a synopsis of ten weeks' service on the Boston Floating Hospital the writer refers to the fact that, in addition to the Ilse of stimulants in children that were very ill, normal salt solution under the skin I if..hypodermoelysis) was found to be "of nmeh He states that the sterile apparatus was always ready and warm, and was in daily. almost use. Every five or six hours and in amounts varying from 1 to 5 ounces (:30 to 150 grammes), given under the skin of chest. back. or abdomen. was the rule. No harm resulted in any ease. save two or three small abscesses, the •ause for which was readily found in im perfect sterilization of the needle. It eauses the baby little or no pain. and certainly seems to act as a powerful re storative. It can be readily given by a nurse. who must. however, give her en tire attention to the matter.
Enteroelysis or irrigation of the lower bowel was performed nearly seven hun dred times. It was much more com monly used in the early portion of the season. This seems to be due to a growing feeling on the part of the phy sieians that cases for this treatment should be carefully selected. There were no bad effects. Two quarts of solution were commonly employed. with a pres sure of eighteen inches. through a flex ible rubber catheter. Nos. 21 to 23. American -tale. inserted gently twelve or fourteen inches. The usual solution was normal salt solution, sterile water. or solution of soda bicarbonate from :3 drachms (12 grammes) to the pint litre) to 1 drachm (-1 grammes) to 2 pints 41 litre). It. W. Hastings (Boston Nled. and Surg. Jour., Jan. 15. 1003).
In cancer of the stomach the use of the chlorate has, in some cases, been lowed by the happiest results. The initial dose is 2 drachms daily, in divided doses; this dose is gradually increased until 4 drachms are taken daily. If albuminuria be present or be developed during the course of medication, this treatment is contra-indicated. (Bris saud.) In mercurial stomatitis, aphtllle, mu cous patches, ulcers of the tonsils, the sulphite in solution (1 to 8) may be ap plied by a mop or in the form of spray. Scat-worms (oxyuria) may be dislodged from the rectum by injection of a solu tion of the chloride; the injections re move the worms and relieve the intense itching.
In dysentery the use of the nitrate, in drachm doses, freely diluted, every three hours, has been recommended.