Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-28
Drprherrn; what 1. MA simple Cure.

From the Providence, x. l. Post
Within the past two years the public attention
has frequently been called 70 this disease by para
graphs telling of its ravages in different places
of a remarkable mortality from it in individual
families 1t has prevailed extensively in California.
In the autumn Of 1858 it destroyed nearly two hun
,lred. children in Albany, N Y; in March, 1859, it
pyufsgod great CONSERVATION in Orange Connecti-
cuts&$ is quite prevalent at the present time in
Western New York. deaths are reported from II
every week in Philadelphia, New FORK and Boston,
and some cases have occurred during the last year
m all parts of New England; but it has been cpl
demc rs TO attract the public attention IN only
lew places.
In this city there were few cases in August. 1855
and five persons died with the disease during the
remainder of that year.
In lSj9 seventeen persons died of dlptherla, and
during the present year it has been present IN the
city nearly all the time not, however, assuming an
epidemic character.
1t has passed over all portions of France within
the last thlrty-hve years and throughout England
during the past SIX or eight wears, causing large
mortality among children. What is It
We find the following description in one of the
CITY Registrars reports.
"Diptheria is disease of childhood. the greater
portion of its victims like those of Scaratina being
between two and twelve years of age Ii com
mences with the usual symptoms of a cold and
with considerable fever. simultaneously with these
symptoms, and sometimes preceding them there is
a deposit in spots. uf a whtish or rreyish white
membrane upon the tonsils and back mart of the
mouth. This membrane increases with great IA
pidity; the fever becomes OF 4 typhoid character:
there l. great constitutional depression: the breath
becomes exceedingly fWtii, and in some cases the
glands about the neck become enlarged Whea
death takes place Is caused IN some eases by the
extension OF the false membrane TO the air passage
producing the effects OF croup in other cases il is
caused low exhaustion and fever from the poison of
the disease. In some CpidCmiCS a majority of the
fatal cases viii die apparently from Group; in other
rpidvmics. the larger portion will die from the con
stitutional symptoms. In the severe epidemic in
the c.tv Of Albany, IN 1885, few cases occurred IN
the spring and summer. but the greatest severity OF
the disease was in October and November
Il is entirely distinct disease from scaratina or
Group though II has some relation 10 those diseases
which at times. cause doubt in the minds of super
fci.d observers.
The diagnusuc by which it is known from other
complaints OF the throat is the formation Of mem
hraur which increases gradually until the patient
is literally stIauglcd 10 death. 1t is sometimes ac-
companIci by liberation, and extreme prostrauon
of the entire systomS vet in either case II Is equally
fatal. To arrest the formation of tins membrane
would therefore seem equivalent 20 curing the dis
ease, ami this IN most instances may be done in the
following manner:
In the early stages of the complaint. which is al
ways accompanied 10y soreness and swelling Of the
throat let the patient a simple solution of salt
aud water. rs gargc every fifteen minutes. At
the same time mulstea piece OF flannel with a So
luton of the same kind. made warm as the patient
can bear H. and bind it around his throat renewing
IT, ana bind around his throat renewing it as often
the gargle is administered. and in the meanwhile
spruklng fine salt between the flannel and the neck
Use iHwardiy some tonic stimuiant, either sepa-
TatC.r- or lt the nrosuauOn be great. Use both
getacr. Inc treatment, as may be seen. Is extreme
Is simple, and If used in the earlier stages Of the
disease, will effect a complete cure