Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-17
Dip,berin-Its Treatment.

DipIherin-lts Treatment.
The medical profession are we'll aware that
new diseases are continually appearing, which
are in fact notifications of old ones, under
new names and in new forms. A compare
lively new disease called Dipthsria has been
unusually prevalent in some localities during
the present winter; and for want of being
taken in time, has been particularly fatal
in certain districts. Some physicians say
that for all popular purposes this disease
may be regarded as a modification of the
putrid sore throat In both of rhese, as in
almost any other disease experiences, medical
skill at the outset is. worth every thing. 1t
generally begins in a family among the chill
dren, one Of whom will be restless and fever
ish for day, or with symptoms not very
unlike those which precede scarlet fever, ex-
hbiting strong constitutional arrangement.
Then comes on complaint of soreness in
the throat, followed by small patches of
white, or sometimes yellowish coating mats
ter on the throat The moment these appear
no time should be lost in sending for medi-
cal man who has had experience and success
in treating these disases, because there are
in fact two diseases TO be treated at once.
One is in the throat, where there is local
danger; but there is also another in the
fluids of the whole body, which is, after all,
perhaps, the chief thing, though most out of
sight.
1t is well known that the best mode of
treating scarlet fever, measels and even ty-
phoid fever, is to regard them as the effects
Of some poisonous matter inhaled through
the lungs, and carried, perhaps, at the oxy-
gen gas is carried, through The capllaries of
that organ into the circulatory system. In
scarlet fever and measels the best treatment
has, therefore, been found, not to bleed or
reduce the system, but rather to stimulate it
so as to aid it to throw off to the surface the
poison which in those cases blossoms out on
the skin and dies there. The same sort of
general treatment is found most useful in
diptheIia. If a child has an ordinary attack
of sickness, or sore throat, little abstinence
or opening medicine will generally reduce
il. But in disease of this kind, on the con
trary, generous diet and gently stimula-
ting treatment seems to strengthen nature
to throw off the disease. Whether diptheria
is contagious or not has been doubted. In
all probability it is not. But it may aud
does become epidemic in the atmosphere.
Wherever there is exposure to it, fresh, pure
air is one of the best of preVentives and
even medicines both for the individ-
ual patient and for the prevention
of the spread of the disease. A room
we'll aired and lighted, and warmed, so freely
as to allow of a constant change, without
draft, or any extreme heat or cold, will Of
itself do much in the way of medicine. Bu!
there is no time to be lost in the commence
ment of active treatment the moment the
disease shows itself. To cleanse and keep
clean the throat, and prevent unhealthy and
corrupt matter from forming or accommodating
there, is in itself work of no ordinary skill
Gsrgles for the threat, that will stimulate tht
mucous membrane to healthy action, or eau
terization, as needed, together with the keep
ing up of the strength of the general system
will require no little management and
promptitude. 1t should be borne in mind
that the proper treatment of each case as il
arises is of vast importance, not only to the
life and health of the individual patient, but
in fact, Of the whole community. An houl
or two of neglect by sleepy nurse may rem
der case virulent in itself and pestilent t.
whole neighborhood; while careful nursing
and scientific treatment may and will modify
the type which disease assumes, until i
entirely dies away, or becomes in time easily
manageable by discreet family nursing.