The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-12-19
W HOLE NUMBER SOS.
DiDtherIa.

| AHS I"iIo"lug EepOIL lIOul thS PSu " OuO
OF our leading physicians in relation to this
disease and more particularly in regard to
certain facts disclosed by examinations into
a fatal case happening during the course Of
his practce, wiIFbe found Of importance and
general interest to the community, particu.
| larly at this time.
"Fhis disease, which for the last four or
Ave years has been making its way vest
ward, has appeared in the various localities
throughout this country, and by its fatality
has cnused considerable alarm in the public
miud. 1t is characterized by the fotmation'of
membranous exudation covering the throat
and roof of he mouth more or less complete
~, and in some CAGES extending into the
, windpipa, causing death as IN Group, by sut.
| location. Il Is not identical with form Of
throat disease which has occasionally pre-
vailed in different parts of the country and
which has bsen vari9usly designated, as
malignant sore throat, Black Tongue, &c.
The tendency In this form of the disease 10
TO a rapid death or gangrene of the parts af-
fected and it lacks wholly, the membrane.
Gus exudltiou which is the peculiar fea tore
of Dpthera. TIE disease is not altogether
new. Several epidamics have been describ-
ed in which this peculiar exudation was OBJ
served. The physicians Of every country
hsve occasionally met with cases of throat
disease accompanied with a membrsnous ex.
ul.tOn, but lacking altogether that fatal
! tendency that ha, mlrked this epidemic
visitation of the disease. The danger from
the ex eation of the exudation into the wind.
pipe has been referred to-. This undoubteds
ly in some cases is tho direct case Of deaths
but very many csses prove fatal in which
there is no affection of the windppe and no
material obstruction 10 the respiration.-
Death h s been supposed to result, in such
cases from the terribly depressing effects Of
biseas upon the nervous centres. Perhaps
large majority of the fatal cases have
been Of this character, and until the inter-.
esting fact developed by case thatoccurred
in the hmily of Mr.. Rsdhsm Prichett. OF
E at Goshen, but little hes been brought
cut to satisfy the minds OF intelligent Ply
sicins "a the precise cause of death in those
cascs in which the difficulty about the throat
IS insufficient to account for the result.---
In Mr. prichett's family the disease first ap.
pesred in June laet and at that time counted
two victims. Last week it again appeared
cnd added two more TO the ist. In none Of
ffsipec she udntson extend ta the wind
: pipe, nor wss there an amount OF the disease
Of the throlt to explain the result The at
tending Physicians finding themselves baf-
Z & d in their efforts TO arrest the fatal ten
: dency, sought in the last case, and readily
obtained the privilege of making a post-mor.
ten cx nination, which developed tho facl
that in the cnyitiaa OF the heart there had
been formed mass Of firm leathery consist.
ency, and more or less firmly sdherenl to the
Innings of the cavities. Much the larger
amount was found in the cavities OF the right
side OF the heart, forming when rolled to-
geiher mass nearly an inch in diameter.
The adhesion to the walls of the heart in
some parts was 50 firm as 10 render itimpos.
,iDe to separate it without leaving PARTICLES
: still sttsched. 1t is true that gelatinous
; mass is often found in the heart, formed by
its contracting upon its coagulated ibrum Of
the blood, during the Iast hours OF existence;
but the leatherY character Of the mass reno.
ed, aad the f1mness Of the adhesion preclud.
cd such theory OF formation. A more ra.
tionsl explanation ia found in the. altered
condition OF the ftbrin of the blood which
Is the remarkable feature OF the disease.-
The existence OF such mass would account
no. only for the rspidly fatal terminntion,,
but also for the existence of an extremely
feeble pulse In connection with violent
. tumultous action of the heart, as is often
observed ia fatal cases Of this disease.
Should this condition be confirmed BY
subsequent examinations great practical
gotd mFy result il directing the attantion Of
Physicians to anoiher source OF danger than
the local disesse Of the throat, and lead
hem by early and decisive measures to
counteract mere successfully the bood.vice,
upon which the disease depends. One other
port may be worthy Of notice as calculated
to do away with unnecessary anxiety upon
bcir z brought in contact with cases of Dip.
thefio. II appears to be purely and simply
an epidemic disease, dependent upon cause
J or causes exi,tent in the atmosphere, and
that it will select localities and individuals
that have most sffiniIy for it without refer.
) ence to direct exposure to the disease
-----ssss ssa-----
e b5-eBilI, I've been in real estate little
' lately" "Well how much have You dipped
in!" "Bought n lot ia the cemetery, and a
half acre for residence lot north of it."
| "Just north! what the deuce did you 20 90
} for off Going to live there = "Yes. Bill, I
wanted home beyond the grave - Bill
I looked solemn, and they both vanished whis.
: .tling melancholy air. 4.i-sa. .s. (
--e&e<s---
0F"Sir, our account has been standing
for two years, and must have 1t settled i'm
mediately." IT, which the customer replied:
:, aSir, things usudlly do settle BY standings
I regret that my uccouhtiis an exception.
EIf it has been s,snding too long, suppose
80. II. "a - .,,l;la 1gf3 Ss5 # ta sS