Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-11-20
Treatment of Diptheria.
Adrice from a Physician-the Malaay Ma
agea5Ie if Promptly Taken in Hand.

1drice from Physician-the Matady Man
agea5le if Promptly Taken in Hand.
Diptheria has prevailed SO long and
terribly in Brooklyn and New York that
the opinions Of the wisest and the expert
enced physicians should be sought, in the
hope of finding some remedy for it
Among the poor, bad air and food are a
mong the most active causes Of the great
mortality from it; but still il will only too
often single out and kill its victims among
the children of the rich, cleanly and judi
ciOus.
In every case of the disease Of course
pure air. if possible, and good food. even
if II has 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 rs useful as
soup Of any kind: and it may always be
prevented from turning sour, or making
the patient bilious or feyerish, by the ad
dition ola large pinch Of soda to each tea
cupful Of milk.
Beef tea, soup or milk should he taken
frequently, and in AS large quantities as
the stomach will bear and digest without
causing disgust or nausea.
If stimulants are required. and they are
generally wanted early and abundantly,
milk punch is the best; but is sould al
ways be made with the addition Of soda
or lime water To the milk fer the reasons
above stated.
If milk punch becomes distateful, bar
ley water, rice water, arrow root, &c, may
toe used as bland vehicle for administer
ing stimulants.
Then Of all the remedies that long expe-
rience-ovcr 80 years--has proved emi-
ucntly reliable, chlorate of potash is the
best; but il 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 solution. By Civ
ing II in this way, it dissolyes slowly in
the mouth and gradually and efficiently
in contact with all the diseased parts Of
the throat.
- is Slightly tiisagreeable at first; but
N youngcs. child soon becomes accus
toned to it. 1t takes away the supposed
necessity for forced local application tc
the. throat, and if the little patient bt
! tat'-.-. - oyer. SIS mouth widely. without
straiDing. and to draw in its breath deep
Il AZ the same time. the curtain ofthe pal
ate viii BE drawn up, and the whole back
part Of the throat. down to the windpipe
viii be exposed to view, without the ust
OF any harshcr means to obtain a view o
the parts involved 10y the disorder.
/ This treatment must be persisted in, tht
ch!oratc of potash be given in doses o
TWO or three, five or more grains ever!
hour at first until some decided improve
meut commences, CT for one, two or three
or even more days, without hesitation OF
taltcring. Often no apparent improvement
seems to take place for one, two, or more
days: sometimes not until nearly up to tht
fourth day. But courage and persever
ance viii almost certainly be rewarded
with success; certainly four or five times
ont OF six.
This treatment is considerate, but eff
cient: the child never becomes afraid o
its physicians or attendants; and general
Il. with a little management, takes or doe
all that is required OF it, because its hand
ling is always gentle, or at least not harsl
or distressing.
II the debility be very great, muriat
tincture of iron may be required. If TIL
mouth be dry, glyceline may be put int
it frequently.
1t may he true that in the most desti
tute. tilthicst and careless classes the be
ginning of diptheria may be the beginin!
of death. but am very sure that vas
number of lives can be saved by the treat
mcnt above indicated.