On the use of Sulphate of Bebeerine as a substitute for Sulphate
of Quinia. By Edward D. Dailey, M. D., of Smyrna, Del.
My attention was first called to the use of the Sulphate of Be-
beerine as a substitute for quinia, in remittent and intermittent
fevers, by the note of Prof. H. S. Patterson, published in the
“ Medical Examiner ” for May, 1852, in which he urged upon
the profession, the propriety of giving that drug a fair and full
trial, both on account of its comparative cheapness and its free-
dom from producing the unpleasant effect upon the brain which
sometimes follows the administration of quinine. Hoping I had
found a remedy suited, in a great measure, to take the place of
the last named salt, equally and in some cases more efficacious, and
not obnoxious to the objection that it (quinine) is on account of
its price, I sent to Philadelphia immediately—having at the
time several obstinate cases of intermittent under treatment—and
procured a quantity, for the purpose of giving the bebeerine a
trial, and in which cases its anti-periodic properties were fully
tested.
Case 1st—Mrs. II-------, a widow lady from Philadelphia, then
on a visit to Hunting Creek, Md.,—where I at that time resided—
had had an intermittent for several months, for which quinia, bark
in substance, the various preparations if iron, zinc, &c., had been
used in succession, with the effect of checking the chill for a few
days only ; she had almost concluded to abandon entirely the use
of medicine, and I was at a loss what to do for her (she postively
refused to take arsenic) until I received the bebeerine. I then
commenced giving her this in accordance with the recommenda-
tion of Prof. P., viz., 3ss. to gviii. water, with enough Elix. Vi-
triol to dissolve it, of which a table spoonful was taken every third
hour during the apyrexia. The next paroxysm was not prevented
but was delayed nearly three hours. After the subsidence of
fever, she again took the bebeerine in the same manner, and so
continued for two days entirely escaping the expected chill, nor
had she any return during her stay in Maryland, which was five
months after “missing her chill.” I, however, continued the ad-
ministration of the remedy by way of precaution, and on account
of its tonic properties, gradually diminishing the dose, and at
longer intervals, for a week. With the result of this trial, I was
highly gratified, and was confirmed in the determination to still
further test its power.
Case II.—Miss H. D--------, aged 17, had had three fits of ague,
recurring every day, one day in the morning, the next in the
afternoon—a double tertian. The patient was of bilious tempera-
ment, tongue covered with a dirty white coating, complexion
icterode, sclerotica in the same condition, bowels constipated,
with scanty high colored urine. I gave hydrarg. proto kchlor.
grs. x. to be followed in six hours by 01. ricini £j., which purged
her freely. I then gave the bebeerine in the same manner as in
case I. Still the paroxysms continued to occur with no sign of
abatement, notwithstanding I persisted in the treatment until she
complained of a burning sensation in the stomach, when I with-
drew the bebeerine, and one hour previous to the time for the next
paroxysm, gave her sulph. quinine grs. viii., which completely
warded off the chill; and by the use of Vallet’s proto-carb,
iron she speedily regained her strength and color.
Since the above I have used it in many cases with variable
success, but as a general rule I have not been so well satisfied
with its results as I have been with those fromquinia. Notwith-
standing I have used four ounces I do not know that I have met
with more than three cases in which the recovery was clearly
attributable to the bebeerine.
That the sulphate of bebeerine will ever supersede the sulph.
of quinine I have not the remotest idea; first, because its anti-
periodic properties are not so certain nor so speedily obtained;
2dly, because the sulph. of quinia is by far the cheaper article of
the two.
Quinine may be had for from three dollars to four and a half
per ounce, and from ten to twenty grains will usually cure an in-
termittent ; whilst on the other hand, I paid for bebeerine fifty
cents a drachm, which brings it above the average price of qui-
nine, and in no case will less than from 30 *to 60 grains effect a
cure.
That bebeerine is a good general tonic, no one who has used
it, will, I apprehend deny, and for that purpose I am in the
habit of prescribing it; but even as a tonic we have others equally
efficacious and much lower in price. At my suggestion, my
friend Dr. W. D. Noble, of Federalsburg, Md., and my brother
Dr. S. T. Dailey of Somerset county, in the same State, have
used bebeerine and their experience corresponds "with my own.