Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-16
Written for the Clear6eld Republican. I
Diphtheria.


Il nature and progress as have been able to gath
' or, through tbs kindness of physicians in those
communities where the disease appeared most
fatal, as well as = few well marked csses which
. came under my immediate observation.
The nearest point to this town where tho dis.
ease prevailed to an alarming extent, in jefferson
county, about nine miles from here, on an eleva.
ted situation, in the family of Mr.. Price, Of Wins.
lew township, ard in q remarkably healthy
place. In this family, five died 10 few months,
leaving only single member Of the family-a
boy about afteen years old the disease proving
iata! IN every instance when attacked, in periods
oil from FIVE to twenty-esht days; their ages
varying respectively from FIVE to twenty. one
years. The fact that the disease confined itself
so fatally to this one place, proves most certainly
that some local cause connected with this place
, was conducive to the disease.
In this disease, (liko other zymotic diseases,
the stioiogy of which is usually uncertain. IL [,
with the utmost difficulty that we can determine
how far 1t could be justly attributed to meteoro-
fogicaL miasmatic, or ether causes. | learn,
|, however, that most persons, embracing every
ago snd sex, residing in the locality where the
endemic first made its appearance, has, at differ.
ont tunes during its prevalence. symptoms of the
disease more or loss distinctly marked but those
who were exposed severally, and attacked, in
removing to another locality, suffered only =
modified and mitigated form Of IT. in this respect
agreeing with the general law of endemics. of
NJ he I L.
doubt In those cases which l have seen, aud
those reported to me at my request, which think
must have been apparent 10 every one possessed
OF discriminating mind, who had an opportunity
presented him of witnessing its peculiar charac-
ter, tending, and progress. In those families !
where more than one member was attacked, those
last seized invariably run the most violent and |
rapid course, terminating in some instances, in |
four or five days; doubtless owing TO The fact
that those last attacked were exposed, not O nIy
to the o:iginal source of tho contsgion, but at
the came time to the peculiar poison given of
from those who were already suffering from the
disease. In most cases, period of two weeks
elapsed between an exposure to the disease and
its invasion the period of incubation, however,
varied from FIVE TO twenty days.
Tho anatomical LESSONS were principally those
Of the Emphatic glands. This was more especi-
ally the case with the cervical glands, which, in
the most malignant cnses, were very much en-
larged, 20 as to interfere with deglutition, and
alarmingly obstrnct the air passages.
The primary symptom Of this frigh tfa disease
apparent in my observation, was pain in the ear
This was not only pathognomonic but promi-
nent, and almost if not invariably present in
every case that have seen, and those with whom
I have converscd. who have recovered, all re-
member this symptom, for few days prior to the
patients making the least complaint, in any |
other form whatever, and before the small-
est speck or eoncretioa Of lymphatic exudation
could bc diseeYered on the tonsels or elsewhere,
To this symptom VIC must nov add stiffness of
tho museles Of the neck, great prostration, ncr-
vous system greatly depressed, slight chils, the
action Of tho glands increased, sore throat
tongue slightly coated in the centre and red
around the outside, orthopnes, occasionally
prOmaurely slow pulse, hut generally nccelera-
ted and feeble. On examining the fanoes the
tonssls were found to be red, enlarged, and in
famed, and soon small points of lymphatic e1u-
datien were discovered on them which spread
rapidly the contiguous parts, until it entirely
covered the amygdal@, urula, soft palate, and
the entire surface Of the pharnyx with pseudo
membrane, which continued to extend upwards,
until it closed the nasal fossn, and downwards go
as to invade tho larnyx, where its progress was
indicated by Loarsc coughing, nphonia, and or
thopnGa, which terminated soon in secondary
Group.
In most cases tho appetite and digestion were
unimpaired and, although have the report Of
very intelligent physician in Jefferson county
of case where typhoid fever was added or en-
sued, there was no mental disturbance observa-
bio during any stage Of the disease.
In few cases potechie were discovered scat
tered over the body and arms in the advanced
period Of the disease. The symptom was
not frequently met with, nor was it found de-
pendent on any peculiar debility or malignaucyI
Of the case. In one case, to which my attention
was called by friend to observe this eruption,
could not characterize it as truo petechiU, not
withstanding my friend who is very intelligent
man and tried physician, so regarded it.
Dysphasia was, OF course, q common and dis
tressing symptom, in consequence of the organs
of deglutition being, in very severe eases, ex-
tensvely involved.
In one case, tho obstruction of the nsOphagu,
was complete, and the patient, (the last one that
died in the family of Mr.. Price, after surviving
tho primary stage, and after giving, in all other
respects, good hope Of recovery, sunk for the
want of nou rishment, and died of pure exhaus-
tion. This patient refused all medical aid after
the primary stage had passed.
In the course of treatment that was pursued, it
is needless to cay that, in disease characterized
as this one was by.such complete atony, in every
stage, no depletory measures were resorted to,
with the exception, believe, of occasionally an
emetlc er mild laxative in such cases where an