The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-11-21
DIiptl,eria---What 5 it,

~ b Dipsheria---What Is it!s5a
Within the past two years, the public atten-
tion has been frequently called to this disease,
BY paragraphs telling Of its rayages in different
places of remarkable mortality from 1t in indi-
vidual hmiles. Il has prevailed extensively in
California. In the autumn Of 1858, it destroy
ed nearly two hundred children in Albany, N
Y, in March, 1859. IL produced crest conster-
nation. In Orange, Connecticut, IL is quite pre-
yaient at the present time in Western New
York; deaths are reported from it every week
in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and
some cases have occurred during the last year
in all parts OF New England; but it has been
epidemic so as to attract the public attention
in only lew places. ., eefr e..
lin this city there were few cases in August,
1853, and five persons died with the disease
during the remainder of that year. In 1859,
seventeen persons died of diptheria, and during
the present year II has been present in the city
nearly all the time, not however, assuming an
epidemic character.
1t has passed oyer all portions of France
within the last thirty-five years, and through
out England during the past six or eight years,
causing large mortality among children
What is it? .. a
.or We find the following description in one OF
the City Registrars Reports: s.
"Diptheria is disease of childhood, the great
er portion ofits victims, like those OF scarlati-
ma, being between two aud twelve years ofase
It. commences with the u'ua symptoms of a
cold, and with considerable fever Simultane-
ousty with these symptoms, and sometimes
preceding them, there is deposit in spots, OF a
whitish or greyish white membrane upon the
tonsils and back part Of the mouth. This mem.
brane increases with great rapility, the fever
becomes Of a typhoid character; there is great
constitutional depression, the breath becomes
excessively foetid, and in some cases, the glands
about the neck become enlarged. When death
takes place, it is caused in some cases by the
extension Of the false membrane to the air pass
ages, producing the effects Of Group; in other
cases, it is caused by exhaustion and fever from
the poison Of the disease. In some epidelnics,
majority Of the fatal cases will die, apparent
ly from Group; in other epidemics, the larger
portion will die from the Constitutional symp-
toms In the severe epidemic in the city Of
Albany, in 1S5S, a few cases occurel in the
spring and summer; but the greatest severity
oft tha I,nosas ;n0 ~, an.1 NNx, ,bo. Z,
Perhaps this gives a suE ;ient ldoa Of the
subject for the genoral readsr. though very i'm
perfect as medica. description.
The causes Of dIptncria, likd those of soar
latina, are very little known, and pjrhaps fol
this very reason there is very great di
versity of opinion among physciansin in relation
to it, and any number of discordant and con
flicting theories have been advanced. An az.
count Of these, though it might be amusing,
would only serve to confuse the reader.
the truth is, that diptheria is now new
disease to physici,n; aal to the people Of Tie
present generation, in this country. Itdid pre-
vail extensively here, many years since, and an
excellent account of it was written by physi-
clan in New York. o'
1t is entirely a distinct disease from scarla
tina or Group. though it has some relations to
these diseases which might, at times, cause
doubt in the minds of superficial observers.
The indications Seem to be, at present that
we shall see much more OF it in this country
and it is important that physicians should
make themselves familiar with it. The Rhode
Island Medical Society have awarded prizs for
a dissertation upon the subject, which will soon
be published, and we are happy to know that
some. at least, of the physicians in this city have
been interested in the disease during the last
two years, and are acquainted with al the par.
ticulars Of its history, symptoms and treat.
ment.-P Providence Post. ,.-