Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-10-09

Advice From a Physician Of High
Reputc-'rhe malady Manageable
If Promptly Taken i'm Hand

The following communication ap-
pears in the New York Tribune:
DipEtheria has prevailed SO long
and terribly in Brooklyn ard 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 &C.
tive causes of the great mortality from
it; but still it will only too often single
out and kill its victims among the
children of the rich, clearly and Judi
cious.
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 home
made 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,
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 teacupful of milk
Beef tea, soup or milk should be
taken frequently and in as large guam
titles as the stomach will bear and ai-
gest without danger of causing dis
gust or nausea.
If stlmulants are required, ard they
are generally wanted early and abund-
antly, milk punch is the best; but it
should always be made with the ad-
dition of soda or lime water to the
milk. for the reasons above stated
II milk punch becomes distasteful,
barley water, rice water, arrow root,
&C, may be used as IL bland vehicle
Tor administering stimulants.
Then of all the remedies that long
experience lover thirty years. has
proved er1inently reliable, chlorate of
potash is the best; but it should be
given i'll one way only, and also thor
oughly. Ii should be given dry upon
the tongue, pure, not mixed with su-
gar, and not III solution. BY giving it
in this way, it dissolves slowly in the
mouth, and gradually and .fficit ntly
comes in contact with all the diseased
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 APP
p!IcatiOns to the throat, and if the 1T
lie patient be taught to open its mouth
widely, without straining, and to draw
il its breath deeply at the same time,
the curtain of the palate will be drawn
up, ard 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 il,
| the chlOrate of potash being given in
doses of two, three, five or mere grains
| every hour at first, until some decided
Improvement commences, or for one,
two, three or even more days, without
hesitation or faltering. Often no ap-
parent improvement seems to take
place for one, two, or more days
sometimes not until nearly up to the
fourth day. But courage and perse,
verance viii almost certainly be re.
warded with success certainly four OF
! five times out of six.
This treatment is consderate, but
efficient; the child never becomes afraid
of its physician or attendants; and gen.
orally, with little management, takes
VI ooco All IdflC 10 IeNuiiec Vi II, Dc'
! eau Sc its handling is always gentle, or
at least not harsh or distressing.
If the debility be very great, inuri
ate tincture of iron may be required.
If the mouth be dry, glycerine may be
put into it frequently.
1t may be true that in the most des
titute, flthiest ard careless classes the
beginning of diphtheria may be the
| beginning of death, but am very sure
! that vast number of lives can be
saved by the treatment above indicated
/ New York, Sept. s, 1874. JIG. z.