The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-10-22
DIPTHERIA.

Geo. f. Cragin, NJ. d.. successful
doctor, writes from the Oneida communi-
ty, New York, to the Tribune under date
of lth ult as follows:
The diptheria now prevailing in New
ork and Brooklyn, recalls to mind our
experience in the treatment of this dis
ease, which may possibly interest some of
your readers. During the epidemic of
dlptheria which swept over the country in
the year of 1864, carrying off thousands
or victims, our own large family was at
tackled by the disease in its most virulent
form, rapidly proving fatal to the first
nVe or SIX cases, and threatening a clean
sweep through the community, sparing
neither old nor young in its destructive
career. Finding the use of gargles and
specifies ofno avail in checking the dis
ease, which was spreading rapidly through
the family, we abandoned the whole svs-
tenn OF drugs, and began an original course
OF treatment at once simple and effectual.
Noticing in the summer Of 1868 an ac-
count of the treatment Of diptheria by
the application of ice, as recommended
and practiced with success in France and
introduced into this country by DR.. Chap
man, We deli led to try it in combination
with our system of criticism Our meth
cd of operating was simple and something
in this way. Recognizing as we do the
spiritual nature of disease as well as its
physical characteristics, our first effort
was to arouse the spirit of the patient by
means of criticism to resist the power and
leaden influence of the disease. which en-
veloped him like cloud, stupefying and
betogging every mental faculty and effort
OF the will to repel the intruder. The in
variable effect of criticism was to stir up
the patient in mind and heart to make a
stout defence against the attack, to resist
the influence Of the disease with might
and main, and to throw him into sweat.
thus at once relieving the fever. The
next thing was to prepare quantity of
ice broken into small bits which could be
easily taken into the mouth and swallow
ed or allowed to melt, letting the piece slip
as far back as possible around the roots
of the tongue, tonsils and upper part of
the throat This application of ice was
made every ten minutes, day and night
until every vestige of the canker had dis
appeared, and the inflammation had sub
sided. During the day, the patients, un-
less very sick, could help themselves to
the ice if supply was placed by the bed
side, or near at hand but during the
night watchers were required to give the
necessary lump of ice every ten minutes
one nurse attending to several patients
| This course Of treatment was faithful,
followed as long as any traces of the dis
ease could be discovered and although
we had over sixty cases during the Fal
and Winter, and many of them very Sc
we're, we lost not single patient after
adopting the ice-treatment. The applica
ton of ice can be made under any circum
stances, and there must be but few whC
cannot afford few pounds of medicine 81
cheap, so pure and powerful.
The efficacy of the ice-treatment lies in
its being applied continuously until every
trace of the fungus growth has disappear
ed and the swelling and inflammation sub
sided. Acids, alkalies and fashionable
gargles will in some measure check tn,
morbid growth, but they cannot allay tn,
fierce heat and reduce the inflammation
of the swelled throat Ice will d,
| both and not injure the patient.