Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-26
DlplherIn. what is Ire-A simple Cure.

From the Providence (R, l. Post.
Within the past two years, the public at
tention has frequently been called to this dis
ease, by paragraphs telling OF its ravages in
different places, or of q remarkable mortality
from it in individual families It has pre-
vailed extensively in California. In the au-
tumn of 1858, it destroyed nearly two hun
dred children in Albany, N. Y; in March,
1853, it produced great CONSERVATION in Or
ange, Connecticut; it is quite prevalent at
the present in Western New York; deaths
are reported from it every week in Philadel-
phia, New York and Boston and some cases
have occurred during the last year in all
parts of New England; but it has been epi-
demic so as to attract the public attention in
only a few places.
In this city there were a few cases in Au-
gust 1858, and five persons died with the
disease during the remainder of that year.
In 1859, seventeen persons died Of dipthe-
ria, 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 thirty-6ve years, and through
out England during the past six or eight
years, causing a large mortality among chill
dren. What is it2
We fud the following description in one ol
the City Registrar reports:
"Diptheria is q disease of childhood the
greater portion of its victims, like those Of
scarlatina. being between two and twelve
years of age. 1t commences with the usual
symptoms Of cold and with considerable
fever simultaneously with these symptoms,
and sometimes preceding them, there is de-
posit in spots Of a whitish or grayish white
membrane upon the tonsils and back part OF
the mouth. This membrane increa ;es with
great rapidly; the fever becomes of a ty-
phoid character; there is great constitutional
depression; the breath becomes exceedingly
fHtid and in some cases the glands about the
neck become enlarged. When death takes
place, it is caused in some cases by the ex-
tension of the false membrane to the air
passage, producing the effects of Group; in
other cases it is caused by exhaustion and fe-
yer from the poison of the disease. In some
epidemics a majority of the fatal cases will
die apparently from Group; in other epidem-
les, the larger portion will die from the con-
stitutional symptoms. In the severe epi-
demic in the city of Albany, in 1858, few
cases occurred in the spring and summer, but
the greatest severity of the disease was in
October and November.
It is entirely distinct disease from scar
latina or Group, though it has some relation
to those diseases which at times cause doubt
in the minds of superficial observers.
The diagnostic by which it is known from
other diseases of the throat, is the formation
of a membrane which increases gradually un-
til the patient is literally strangled to death.
1t is sometimes accompanied by liberation,
and extreme prostration of the entire system
and at others by neither Of these symptoms
yet in either case it is equally faaal. Toar-
rest the formation of this membrane would,
therefore, seem equivalent to curing the dis
ease, and this in most instances may be done
in the following manner.
In the early stages OF the complaint, which
is always accompanied by a soreness and
swelling of the throat, let the patient use a
simple solution of saltand water, as a gargle
every fifteen minutes At the same time
moisten piece of flannel with a solution OF
the same kind, made warm as the patient can
bear it, and bind it around the throat, renew
ing it as often as the gargle is administered,
and in the meanwhile sprinkling fine salt be-
tween the flannel and the neck Use in
wardly some tonic or stimHlant, either separ-
atelv, or, if the prostratiOn be great, use
both together. The treatment as may be
seen, is extremely simple, and, if used in the
earlier stages of the disease, will effect a
complete cure.