The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-02-12
DIpHTHERII,

DOCIG1lAOtl u ~" -O-t OONs AOS ~
cause, nature, history and proper treat
ment of diphtheria were discussed by the
physicians present. A paper read by DIR.
Elisha Harris brought forward evidence
showing that diphtheria is not q G dis
ease, but, under various names, has been
known since the very dawn Of medical sci
ence. -Four centuries ago it was described
in Europe under the titles of "putrid o
throat, malignant angina" "anglna
suffocative," etc. 1t was this disease
which carried George Washington to the
grave in 1893. Upwards of 100 years
ago it prevailed extensively In the city
and colony of New York.
The first fatal case recorded under its
present name occurred IN New York,
Feb. 20, 1850. Before the close of the
year, fifty-three deaths had resulted from
the malady in that city. In lS5Sand 1859,
it again prevailed in New York in a mild
form, but, in January, 1860, fourteen
deaths were registered in the Bureau OF
Vital Statistics, and the disease became
epidemic, and i'll certain localities very
malignant. The abstract from the NOR
tality of the disease shows that, from
this time until 1864, diphtheriahas become
a serious enemy to human life IN New
York. In the spring of 1858 the disease
appeared in Albany, and 1000 cases were
recognized in the first ten months OF its
prevalence, and 179 deaths were regis
tered. During all this period, not a case
occurred in Troy, a city only seven miles
distant. During 1860 and 1861, diphthe-
ria prevailed as a local epidemic in
many towns throughout the Union; and
the fact was gradually acknowledged that
it was, int certain way, infectious. Theac-
tual deaths charged to the disease in New
York in 1874 were, up to Dec. 10, 1865,
being 514 in excess of the number regis
tered in 1878.
A paper read by DR.. Lewis Smith gave
a review of the cause and nature of diph-
liberia. The malady is contagious through
exhalations from the surface and from
the breath of the patient. The theory Is
pretty clearly substantiated that the dis
ease ows its origint to the presence of bac
tria,-small vegetable parasites. The
grayish-white spots that appear upon IN
famed surfaces at the beginning Of the
disease are entirely composed of bacteria,
which, if not prevented, multiply rapid
", and, by burrowing in the tissues, In
feet the whole system. The bacterlan
theory, developed by microscopic inves-
tigation, is supported by the fact that
diphtheria prevails most in localities favor
able to the development of low forms of
animal and vegetable life, as in crowded
and filthy rooms, and in low grounds.
Confirmation of the theory is also found
in the fact that the disease begins In q
single spot, and may then be easily cured.
1t is only in later stages that it becomes
a dangerous malady. But DR.. Smith
considers that an important factor In the
propagation of the disease is a predis-
posing condition of the system. Bacteria
sometimes exist in the atmosphere with
out producing diphtheria- and are even
found occasionally III the mouths of well
persons, and, when breathed, sometimes
cause no injury to the lungs. These,
with other considerations, indicate that
diphtheria Is, in certain cases, a cOnsttu-
tional maladx- il its circumstances,
though in the majority of instances it is
primarily local, and only subsequently
constitutional. When diphtheria spreads
from house to house, or from room to
room, it is never carried by the clothing,
but by the visits of persons infected
with it.
From these facts it is obvious that, in
cases of diphtheria, there should be an
entire separation of the sick from the well.
Children should be especially protected
from contact with d%iphtheritic patients.
The same sanitary precautions should
also be adopted in treating the disease as
in dealing with low fevers.
4 THOROUGH BOHEMIAN
Paris has recently lost one of its best
known Bohemians. Charles Coligny was
q man of letters rs well as a nightwalke,,
who thought that gas had advantageously
replaced the sun. He therefore went to
bed in the morning and got up at night.