The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-08-23
Diptheria.

Tho following digest OF DIR. +. q. SnollinRs
pamphlet on Diptheria has boon prepared
for tho Coagn gdticnaiH by tho author,
at our request:
"Dipthcria is q disease Of the tonsils.
palate and back part of tho throat or, in
oIher words, It attacks pretty much the
samo parts as are involved in tho common
sore throat :" But its peculiarity consists
in tho fact that thero is deposited upon tho
parts peculiar whitlsh, or grayish, or tcash
tedthery looking deposit, which, as tho dis
case goes on, spreads (according TO its In.
tensity) over the tonsils first, then to tho
palate, arch Of tho palate. down toward tho
larynx, up into the back nostrils, or for
ward upon tho jaws. All the,o different
Varieties OF spreading arc attended with dit.
fcront degrees of danger. II IL spread to
tho java, the patient will probably be worry
Ill. but he will DO in no danger of suff ,cation;
II is spread upward into the back nostrils,
his distress aud discomfort will be creator,
but his danger will be inconparubiy loss
than If 1t invade the respiratory passages.
4 In these last cases tho death 10 ganorally by
sutiocation. Tho oxtont OF the doposi, Is
always good index OF the soverity of tho
case. 1t will geuorally be found, however,,
to conhno itself to the tonsils, unless il
proves very severe or fatal caso.
The frat symptoms are generally shivering
anc hushes OF heat, fever, aud sono disco IN
fort about tho throat The patient sickous
rapidly, complains more and moro of his
throat, and on examination, the peculiar
deposit will be seen covering only small
part Of one tonsil, or in ono or two detached
patches. The throat is vivid.y red and 10
tiamed, generally of u rathor dark rod, how.
ovor, and tho parts more or loss swollen. II
might, possibly, in this Etage, be mistaken
for tho simple sore throat, with whto pa'ci o,
upon tho tonsil, but tho great prostration
nnd debility, aud tho unmistukablo illness O.
tho patient will very soon undocoivc. Tho
tongue 10 also sometimes Of grayish, slaty,
or blackish hue, which will hop to determine o
the question. Aftor tho first febrilo onset,
the disease 10 ominently ono Of debility aud
depression, and needs support and stimula.
tion almost from tho FIRST. To this end,
beef tea, as strong as it can DO made, should
DO prepared and administered TO the patient
every ono or two hours. fow spoonfuls at
q time. II should be made without water
by boiling tho boot, cut up into small pieces
about an inch square, in y wide. moui he'd
jar, placed in hot water. The wator must
not be doop enough to overlinw the mouth
OF tho jar. This may be saltod and seasoned
to suit the patients taste. Wine whey IL
very good in tho case OF children, as il com
binos both nutrimont and alcoholic stimulus
but the beef tca should be given IN conjunc
ton with it. Port wine, claret aud cham
pagne are all good stmulants-ale aud stou
arc also admirable--eggs beaten up with
brandy, hot water and sugar, or strong Doe
tea mixed with port wine, or port win with
sago or arrow root, arc, oil to be used ai
occasion requires.
1t should bo borno ia mind that all tbes,
things arc to be made as digostible anc
palatablo as puss bio to the pationt. If ad
ministered stale or cold, they do moro harm
than good. The medical treatment should
in all cases, be entrusted to phys clan, II
one DO within roach but it not, so long as
there is sharp sevor, and tho pulse is quick,
and the skin hot, tho tincturo OF Aconite
should be given, one or two drops in little
water, every half or one hour. II, on the
other hand, there DO GOODNESS of tho skin.
and prostration, the dose of Aconite should
be reduced TO minimum. Tho bromide
Of potash should also be procured, and n
teaspoonfui of u solution of ono drachm to
the ounce of water should be put In tum
bier of water. and a tablespoonful given
every second hour. Iodine is the next most
successful remedy, and may be given in
drop dosos Of tho tincture. diluted with
teaspoonfui of wator, If tho brom lido o
potash is not successful. 1t may also be
used by inhalation, by placing an open
vessel containing it in substance near the
patient 1t is also of great service to pain
the parts with the muriate tIncturo of iron
applying it with camol's hair pencil. A,
much Of the deposit should be detached q
each application. as possible. The remedies
food and stimulants, should be piled assidu
ously, in proportion to tho depression of the
patient and the extent of tho deposit.
Few diseases require moro prompt and
vigorous treatment than Diptberia In it's
various forms. IL is distinctly contagious.
besides existing in tho atmosphere, and
children should be most carefully protected
from infection.