The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-10-07
OCTOBER.
TREATMENT OF DEPTE5EE1A.
ADVICE FROM a PHYSICIAN OF HIGH
REPUTE-THE MALADY MANAGE
ABLE IF PROMPTLY TAKEN IN
i. HAND.

HAND.
70 f5e Editor of the Tribune:
ssss: Diptheria has prevailed 50
longsnd terribly in Brooklyn and
this city that the opinions of the
gisest and most experienced ply
sicisns should be sought in the hope
Of finding some remedy for it.
Amongthe poor, bad air and food
are among the most active causes Of
the great mortality from it; but still
iswiH ONLY too often single out and
Kill it's victims among the children
Of the rich, cleanly and judicl9us.
In every case Of the disease Of
course pure air, if possible, and
good food, even if it have to be beg
gcd, should beprocured. Any really
good homemade soups, be they of
beef, mutton, 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,
undilutcd milk is quite as useful as
soup Of any kind; and it may al
ways be prevented from turning
sour, or making the patient bilious
or feverish, by the addition of
large pinch of soda to each teacup-
full of milk.
Beef tea, soup or milk should be
taken frequently, and in as large
quantities as the stomach will bear
and digest without danger Of caus-
ing disgust or nausea.
If stimulants are required, and
they are generally 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
ADORE stated.
IF milk punch becomes d;stastc-
full, barley water, rice water. arrow
root, &C., may be used as u bland
vehicle for administering stlmu-
= lants.
Then of all the remedies that i
long experience lover 30 years. has
proved ,em;nently reliable, chloratc
Of potash is the best; but it should
be given in one way only, and also
thoroughly. 1t should be given
dry upon the tongue, pure, not
mixed with sugar, and not in solu-
tio& By giving it in this way
itd;ssolyes slowly in the mouth and
gradually and efficiently cores in
contact witlsall the diseased part
Of the throat.
It's slightly disagrceablc at first;
tn: the youngest child soon be-
comes accustomed to it. 1t takes
away the supposed necessity for
forced local applications to the
throat, and if the little 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
drswnsup, and the whole back part
ofSthe throat, down to the wind
pipe, will be exposed to view, with
out the use Of any harsher means
to obtain q view Of the parts In
yo!ycd 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, un-
i! some decided Improvement com
mences, or for one, two, three, or
even more days, without hesitation
or faltering. Often no apparent
improvement seems to take place
for one, two, or more days; some
times not until nearly up to the
fourth day. But courage and per-
severance will almost certainly be
rewarded with success; certainly
four o.. I'VE times out Of six.
This treatment IS eonslderatc
but efficient the child never be-
comes afraid ofits physician or at
tenaants; and generally with 4 it,
lie management, takes or does all
that is required Of it, because its
handling is always gentle, Or at
least not harsh or distressing.
If tho debility be very great mu-
,;atc tincture Of iron may be re-
ouired. If the mouth be dry, gly-
cerine may be put into it frequent
ly. !
It may be true that in the most
destitute, iithiest: and careless
classes the beginning of diptheria
may be the beginning of death, !
but 1 an very sure that vast num-
ber>of.lives, can be saved by the !
treatment above indicated. !
J.C. P. |
.o-s