PEDIATRICS Vol. 46 No. 3 September 1970, pp. 410
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HOW TO TREAT WHOOPING COUGH ACCORDING TO DR. THOMAS HAYES OF LONDON IN 1786

T. E. C. Jr. M.D.

Whooping cough, which was first described as a disease sui generis by Baillou in 1640, was treated for many years by a plethora of fanciful regimens, ranging from covering the affected child's head with a cowl, supposedly to keep the disordered flux (causing the disease) from the brain entering the lung, to subjecting afflicted children to sudden frights or terrors.1

In 1786 Dr. Thomas Hayes published a plan of therapy for this disease which was followed by physicians both in the United Kingdom and the United States for more than 60 years. Dr. Hayes' regimen for managing infants and children with whooping cough was as follows:

As I have had some hundreds of children under my care ... in the Hooping [sic] Cough, and have not lost one by it; I shall give my general mode of treatment....

I begin, by giving a couple of purges, with sal polychrest, (editor's comment: probably potassium sodium tartrate or Rochelle Salt) and rhubarb....

After two or three purges have been given, I puke them twice or thrice in a week or oftener if need be, especially if children....

An efficacious mixture to puke children with is emetic tartar, four grains; pure water, four ounces; sugar, two drams. Mix (and give) one to three tea spoonfuls [sic] to a child of a year old, early in the morning and repeat it every quarter of an hour, till it puke freely.

When the fits of coughing are very violent, and disturb their rest, from half a drop of Laudanum to three or four; or a tea spoonful of syrup or white poppies ... either in water, or in other drinks. . .