The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-04-04
Diptheria Its Treatment.

| APIhO440 Ato 11ChbuI0lU
The following appeared as communica
ton in the Chicago Tribune of Saturday last
from which we copy it. There seems to be
J reason and sound sense in the advice in refer
ence to the treatment, but it would have more
weight with responsible name attached to
it. If the remedy is what it is claimed to
be, 1t Will be hailed as a great blessing
| This scourge which has ragged almost as an
| epidemic Tor years past has desOlated thou
sands OF homes all over the land, and filled
! them with mourning and anguish. A recent
| telegram from Columbus Ohio, announces
that 1t has become epidemic in the Deaf and
| Dumb ASYLUM there, and that the patients
| III consequence have been sent away from the
| Institution. Infectious in itself, it is by no
means unusual for all the children of the
| household, or of an entire neighborhood to be
carried OIL by it, and not unfrequently also a
| large portion of the adults, though the latter
| have more strength to contend against it
| This disease is almost always accompanied
| with low nervous typhoid symptoms, which
render 1t almost impossible to save a patient
after it has become fully developed, every
part OF the system apparently sympathizing
with that which was attacked. General
| Wash. ngton, the father of his country is gem
orally supposed to have fallen victim to
| diptherla, though his physicians differed in
| opinion, some OF them pronouncing his dis
|
in many OF its symptoms, but rarely proves
fatal.
Having treated some hundreds of cases in
the last llVe or six years, and believing that,
though II does not seem fully understood by
medical men, 1t can almost always be easily
controlled In its earlier stages, the writer con
sldeis 1t his duty to make known to the pub
lie the domestic remedies which may be
cheaply procured and successfully employed
| by any parent, and which will in almost eve
T. in ia1
with proper care, Intelligence and persever-
ance
Nothing is more nsidious than the first APP
proaches OF dlptheria, and its symptoms are
corresp0ndlngly obscure, particularly in very
young children, who are almost ALWAYS the
first attacked. These young Victims even
when old enough to talk, cannot tell what is
the matter with them and, if not very closely
watched, the disease will have progressed TOO
far to be arrested before its discovery, as the
little ones not unfrequently running about
short time before death. They are always
unable Tor some time previous, frequently
days, to swallow either drink OF food But
this does not always attract the attention of
parents. In all cases where there is any pain
or trouble about the throat always the first
part to be attacked, is observed, the mouth
should be opened wide, the tongue
pressed down with the handle of a spoon, and
every part of the back of the throat, thor
oughly examined. If it is highly infamed
anu GNOiiSI, VI Il I6u COlOf, Win WnlUG
or yelowish spots or membranes on one or
both sides, no time should be lost in apply
ing the most vigorous treatment, which in ca
ses far advanced, should be kept up both
night and day, without intermission, until
every yestige of the disease is conquered
Every household should keep on hand. at
least a two ounce vial Of the tincture of mu-
riate ofiron, which should always be ready
and accessible. Prepare wash of equal parts
of the tincture and pure water lin critical ca
ses where an immediate effect is required
the undiluted tincture alone may be used)
and u small sWab, made of rag tied upon a
stick open the mouth, pressing down the
tongue, rubbing the parts covered with the
membrane with some force, in order to detach
it and destroy its further growth. This shod
be frequently repeated, in severe cases, every
half hour, or oftener, all night as well as the
day, till the progress of the disease is arrest
ed.
Sees obstinate cases occasionally hold cut
three Or four days; the majority will Weld in
less than half that time, and the remedy has
never been known to fall when properly and
perseveringly applied. At the same time a
saline solution of half an ounce of chlorate of
potassa dissolved in half pint of water, sho'd
be kept on hand and given to the patient;
adults taking a teaspoonful every two hours.
and infants but a few drops according to the
age, to arrest any fever present. Grown per-
sons occasionally prefer using the wash more
largely diluted as gargle, still keeping up
OllO uoC VI tIAC DIV anu II TIC cast ldllS 10
yield altogether in a few days, two grains of
quinine may be given every three hours, and
few hops chewed in the mouth, swallowing
the bitter extract, sometimes washing the
mouth with decoction of hops stepped in wa
ter.
Every head of family who may read these
directions, should lose no time in being provi- |
ded with these cheap and effectual remedies, !,
and in applying them without delay upon any
occasion, even ifa physician is also called in
as soon as possible. From past experience, it |
is believed that both physicians and the pub |
lie would do well to apply these remedies as
directed in the cases required, instead ofmuch
ofthe ordinary practice in treatment of this
terrible disease. Every mother should ex-
anime the threats other children several times |
a week and promptly resort to the use as
above directed, upon the slightest evidence of
attack. P |
The writer of the above, is far too modest, |
and should have given us his name in full, |
as this treatment is fully Endorsed by our best |
medical men.