The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-08
VOLUME X.---NO. 13.
Treatment Of Diphtheria.

The following communication from physi-
clan of high repute appears in the New York
HiJune
Diphtheria has prevailed SO long and terribly
in Brooklyn and this city that the opinions of
the wisest and most experienced physicians
should be sought, in the hope of finding some
remedy for it. Among the poor, bad air and
food are among the most active causes of the
great mortality from itj but still it will only
too often single out and kill its victims among
the children of the rich, cleanly and judicious.
In every case of the disease Of course pure
air, if possible, and good food, even if it have
to be begged, should be procured. ANY really
good homemade soups, be they of beef, NUT,
ton, chicken are just as good and often far
better than beef tea; and they may be changed
from one to the other as they pail upon the
patients taste. Good, undiluted milk is quite
as useful as soup of any kind, and it may
always be prevented from turning sour, or
making the patient bilious or feverish, by the
addition of large pinch of soda to each
tea-cupful of milk.
Beef tea, soup or milk should be taken fre-
quenty and in as large quantities as the stom..
ach will bear and digest without danger of
causing disgust or nausea.
If stimulants are required, and they are gem
orally wanted early and abundantly, milk
punch is the best; but it should always be
made with the addition of soda or lime water
to the milk, for the reasons above stated,
If milk punch becomes distasteful, barley
water, rice water, arrow root, &C., may be
used as bland vehicle for administering stim1
ulants.
Then of all the remedies that long expert.
ence lover thirty years. has proved eminently
reliable, chlorate of potash is the best; but it
should be given in one way onl y, and also
thoroughly. 1t should be given dry upon the
tongue, pure, not mixed with sugar, and not
in solution. By giving it in this way, it dis.
solves slowly in the mouth, and gradually and
efficiently comes in contact with all the dis
eased parts of the throat.
1t is slightly disagreeable at first, but the
youngest child soon becomes accustomed to it.
1t takes away the supposed necessity for forced
local applications to the throat, and if the lit
tie patient be taught to open its mouth widely,
without straining, and to draw in its breath
deeply at the same time, the curtain OF the
palate will be drawn up, and the whole back
part of the throat, down to the windpipe, will
be exposed to view, without the use of any
harsher means to obtain view of the parts
involved by the disorder.
This treatment must be persisted in, the
chlorate of potash being given in doses Of two,
three, five or more grains every hour at first,
until some decided improvement commences,
or for one, two, three, or even more days, with
out hesitation or faltering Often no apparent
improvement seems to take place for one, two,
or more days; sometimes not until nearly up
to the fourth day. But courage and persever-
ance will almost certainly be rewarded with
success; certainly four or five times out of six.
This treatment is considerate, but eficientj
the child never becomes afraid Of its physician
or attendants; and generally, with little
of it, because its handling is always gentle, or
at least not harsh or distressing.
If the debility be very great, muriate tine
ture of iron may be required. If the mouth
be dry, glycerine may be put into it frequent
ly.
1t may be true that in the most destitute,
flthiest and careless classes the beginning of
diphtheria may be the beginning of death, but
1 am very sure that vast number of lives can
be saved by the treatment above indicated.
J. G. P.
Ncu York, September s, 1874.