The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-01 00:00:00

A REMEDY FOR DIPHTHERIA.

This affection, which comprises those known
under the various names of bad sore throat, aging,
croup, and the French engine couenneuse, has
hitherto been considered one of the most difficult to
cure. We some time back gave an account of Dr.
Trideau's method, which consists in administering
storax under the form of a sprup ; but we now find
in the Revue 77terap
eutique a paper by Dr. A. De
Grand, Boulogne,
late French Vice-Consul at
Havannah,
in which he mentions ice as aninfallible
specific. As this, from its extreme simplicity,
would, if effective, be far superior to any yet tried,
we cannot refrain from quoting the cases mentioned
by the author, who had published this remedy as
far back as February, 1860, and consequently com-
plains
(not without reason, if its efficacy
he describes it) of the inexcusable negligence is such
a
n;
practitioners in not taking notice of it, and
thereby allowing many valuable lives to be
lost. Tile following eases came under his
observation after that date. In March and
April, 1861, the disease in question broke out
under a epidemic form, and chiefly attacked
adults, with such virulence that in one week three
with it,
t
young women
ad died in a single house. One of Dr.
Grand's
i
patients afflicted with blephacite was seized
h
as he could not immediately attend,
owing to the severity of the case another physician
was called in, who ordered emetics and aluminous
Ogarignes, which produced no effect. At length Dr.
Grand
came, and found the tonsils greatly swollen,
and a false membrane covering them. He imme-
diately administered small pieces of ice, and by the
following morning the tumefaction of the tonsils
had diminished by half, and the false membrane had.
nearly disappeared. That very evening she was
enabled to take food. & few days after her brother
was seized with sore throat, presenting the same
preliminary symptoms as those of his sister ; but
he, profiting by this example, without waiting for
the doctor, took ice, and was rid of his sore throat
in a few hours. Some days later Dr. Grand was sum-
moned to a young lady who had been labouring under
the disease for 48 hours; all remedies had failed,
and the parents, relations, and friends of the family
were plunged in the deepest sorrow. When Dr.
De Grand ordered ice a general cry of astonish-
ment was uttered by all present. Ice for a sore

throat ! Impossible! it was sheer murder ! Dr. De
Grand maintained his ground, and after much ex-
postulation, during which much time was lost, he
obtained his end. Before 24 hours were over the
;'atient was in full convalescence. Being at Vera
Cruz on a mission, he was requested to see a young
man who was attacked with a malignant sore throat,
and had been treated withonc effect by cauterisa-
tions with hydrochloric acid and astringent gargles.
He again had to battle with the prejudices of the
family, but was at length allowed to administer ice.
The young man recovered in the course of the fol-
lowing day. Dr. De Grand has now been using
this remedy for the last 12 years without having
met with a single failure. This is what he says, bat
even if only half what he says were true, the
method should be tried by others. Cold gargles
i
have been employed with success by Dr. Blanc,op
Strasburg; why tot ice P—Gegignan essenrar.

~,

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Morning, 3h. 10m.—Afternoon, 3h. 30m.
To-pf ORROw.-Morning, 3h. 50m.—Afternoon, 4h. 15m.