Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-10-14


Ma ED1roR AT this time when so
many IN our midst are assailed by dipthe-
ria, and not few families are called up
on to mourn friend or relative sudden
ly and Unexpectedly taken from the bo-
som of the household, it may not be in
appropriate to have familiar talk with
your readers about the nature and treat
ment of this most dangerous disease.
A few weeks since, there appeared in
this vicinity few scattered cases of what
our physicians have united in calling dip
iberia. In every case the throat was the
part most severely afflicted. Of course
there was the usual chill in the beginning
followed by more or less fever, the pa
tient complaining from the first of sore
throat. In some the tonsils were very
much enlarged, while in others they were
not
There was much diversity with regard
to the rapidity Of the disease; but in
majority of cases, however, its course was
not so rapid as in other epidemics. In
not single case did l see true false mem
brane thrown out The patches seemed
| to have more of an lucrative than mem
| branous nature, but there was generally
considerable swelling Of surrounding
parts, even extending in severe cases high
up into the roof of the mouth. 1t was
this swelling or edema and not the false
membrane that in majority of cases
caused the death Of the patient. No doubt
this swelling involved the the upper part
of the trachea or windpipe though have
made no post m0rtem to ascertain the
fact That it did SO, however, there is no
reason to doubt
| The first question asked the physician
by the alarmed parents and friends is, as
it catching?" meaning of course is it con-
tagious. Now this is difficult question
to answer satisfactorily. In the first place
it is not contagious in the sense that small
pox is. Not every person nor one in a
hundred of those exposed to it will have
it. But we have certainly seen it attack
three or four members in the same family
Especially those that ate and drank and
! neighbors that came in did not seem to be
at all liable to contract the disease.
In this talk it is not my object to adj
wise people how to doctor themselves, for
the disease is altogether too dangerous to
them of their real danger-to quell all UNI
necessary fears and to inform them in re-
icians are not supposed to trouble them
selves much about
The disease cannot be too early sub
jected to medical treatment, nor too as
siduonsly watched The directions of the
medical attendant should be followed to
the letter, and every facility afforded him
in the case to make his treatment sue
cessful. What mean, is that not erery
old lady that comes in should be allowed
to make complete change in the medi-
cine, even though she mag deem it ncccs-
sary Nobody is willing to take the re-
sponsbilty of the case without doing at
least part of the doctoring, though every
neighborhood is full of men and women
both who are very willing and even anx-
ious to do the doctoring and shift the re-
sponsibility on somebody else's shoulders.
Many children have been withheld from
the public school through fear of con-
tracing the disease. OF course no child
with any symptoms Of the disease ought
to be allowed to go to school or anywhere
else; but the liability of catching it from
contact with any such IS out of the qucs-
ton. Parents need not keep their child
rem out of school an hour on that &C
count. -
One of the MINOR matters that | spoke
of, is ventilation, which should be thor
ough and constant Generally the at
tcndants are taken with spasmodic fits of
airing about every two Or three days
This aoiH net DO If possible let no one
sleep in the room with the patient Above
all keep the patient quiet and free from
all unnecessary excitement. Keep him
well nourshed by proper food, and if the
physician orders it, administer stimulants
regularly.
MALCoM GRAHAM, NJ. ID.