CHOLERA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2427, 19 November 1892, Page 3

CHOLERA.

A representative of the Figaro had an interview with M. Kaffkine, a young Russian doctor attached to the Pasteur Institute, who is confident that he has discovered a means of procuring immunity from cholera by inoculation. M. Haffkine explained that the inoculations were made in the same manner as those performed by M. Pasteur for hydrophobia. There was one noticeable difference, however. This was that with two injections they were certain of the result as, as they were able to verify the presence of the cholera bacillus in the 'culture,’ whereas the bacillus of hydrophobia, had not yet been discovered, and it was consequently impossible to tell whether it was contained in the substance injected. In cases of hydrophobia it had, therefore, been necesssary to make twenty-five successive injections. Out of such a number at least one or two were pretty certain to be efficacious. But when once the microbe of hydrophobia had been discovered, they would be able to operate with absolute certainty as to the result. M. Haffkine stated that he recently received a visit from a French doctor who stated that he was deeply interested in the experiments and was willing to sacrifice himself iu the cause of science. He begged that he might be inoculated with unprepared cholera virus, and he thought it absolutely essential to know whether a man who had not been vaccinated could resist the injections to which animals who had not been vaccinated had succumbed. M. Haffkine hastened to add that ho had not accepted the heroic proposal, which had greatly touched him. Aprupo a of cholera the Paris > Bulletin Municipal . Official!, in its current issue, gives a list of the precautions to be observed in oases of that disease. Drinking water should be boiled, and no bread should be made or vegetables washed except with water that had been boiled. The hands should be washed with soap before eating. Beware of taking cold, and do not drink spirits to excess, are some of the recommendations given. In cases pf an attack of diarrhoea the Council of Hygio.ue suggests that the patient should take every quarter of an hour three tablespoons of the following mixture—Lactic acid ten grammes, simple syrup ninety grammes, tincture of orange two grammes, water, a litre ; and in case of vomiting administer ice and sodawater, and twenty drops of paregoric every hour.