Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-12-01
MistelIaneous.
Diptheria.

| Inc following report from the pen of a
leading physician of Delaware county. in re.
istion to this singular and fatal disease, and
more particularly in regard to certain facts
disclosed by examination into a fatal case
happening during the course of his practica
will be found of importance and qenerai
interest to the community, particularly at the
present time -
"This disease, which for the last four or
live years has been making its way westward
has appeared in various localities through
this county, and by it, fatality has caused
considerable alarm in the public mind. 1t is
characterized by the formation of q membra.
nous exudation covering the throat and roof
OF Inc mouth more or less completely, and ip
some cases extending into the windpipe,
causing ueath, as 10 Group, by suffocation.-
1t 10 not identical with form of throat dis.
| ease which las occasionally prevailed in
different parts of the country, and which has
been variously designated as malignant sore
throat, -putrid sore throat, erysipelas of the
throat, Black Tongue, &c. The tendency in
this form OF disease is to rapid death or
gangrene OF the parts affected and it lacks
wholly the membraneus exudation which ia
the peculiar feature of Diptheria. The dis.
ease Is not altogether new. Several epidem.
les have been described in which this peculiar
exudatons was observed and physicians in
every country have occasionally met with
cases OF throat disease accompanied by
membranous exudation, but lacking altope.
ther the fatal tendency that has marked this
epidemic visitation Of the disease. The dan.
ger from the extension Of the exudatiop into
the windpipe has been referred to. This
undoubtedly IN some cases is the direct cause
oi death. but very many cases prove fatal iu
~nicn tnere Is no affection of the windpipe
ana no material obstruction to the respira.
tion. Destn mas been supposed to result, in
seco cases. from the terribly depressing effect
Of the disease upon the neryous centres
ferhaps large majority of the fatal cases
have been Of this character, and until the
interesting fact developed BY a case tb at
occurred in the family Of Mr. Rodmsn Pri.
chett, of East Goshen, but little has been
brought ous to satisfy the minds of intelli.
gent physicians as to the precise cause of
desth 10 those cases in which the difficulty
about the throat is insufficient to account for
the result. In Mr.. Prichetts family the
disease hrst appeared in June last, and at
that time counted its two victims. Last
week II again appeared and added two more
to the list. In none of these did the exuda.
tion extend to the windpipe, nor was there
an amount Of disease OF the throat TO explain
the result. The attending physicians fnding
themselves baifled in their efforts to arrest
the fatal tendency. sought in the last case.
ana readily obtained the privilege Of making
post'mortem examination, which developed
the fact that in the cavities of the heart there
had been formed mass Of firm leathery con.
slstency, and more or less firmly adherent 10
tue lining oil the cavities. Much the larger
amount was found in the cavities OF the right
no hna arf H.. H.
ther, mass nearly an inch in diameter. The |
adhesions to the walls of the heart in some |
parts we're so firm as to render it impossible !
TO separate 1t without leaving particles still |
attached. 1t is true that q gelantinous mass |
is often found in the heart, formed by its |
contracting upon the coagulated ibrin OF the |
blood, during the last moments Of existence
but the leathery character of the mass re-.
moved and the frmness of the adhesion.
preclude such theory of its formation. A
more rational explanation 10 found in the
altered condition of the fbrn Of the blood
which is the remarkable feature of the dis.
ease. The existence OF such mass would
account, not only for the rapidly fatal termi
nation, but also for the existence Of au
extremely feeble pulse ip connection with
violent, tumultuous action OF the heart as is
80 often observed 10 fatal cases of this dis
ease. Should this condition be confirmed by
subsequent examinations, great practical
good may result in directing the attention of
physicians to another scarce of danger than
the local disease of the throat, and lead them
by early and decisive measures to counterset
more successfully the bood.vice, upon which
the disease depends. One other point may
be worthy OF notice as calculated to do away
with unnecessary anxiety upon being brought
in contact with cases OF Diptheria. 1t seems
to be purely aud simply an epidemic disease,
dependent upon cause or causes existent in
the atmosphere. aud that it will select local..
ties and individuals that have most affinity
for it. without reference to direct exposure
TO the disease"