Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-02-25
DiRhtheria.
Memoirs.

At meeting of the Public Health AS
ISOLATION of New York, Dec. 10, 1874, the
cause, nature, history and proper treat
ment of diphtheria were discussed by
the physicians present. A paper read by
DR.. Elisha Harris brought forward evil
dence showing that diphtheria is not a
new disease, but, under various names,
has been known since the very dawn Of
medical science. Four centuries ago it
was described in Europe under the titles
of "putrid sore throat" malignant
angina" "angina sufocative," etc. 1t
was this disease which carried George
Washington to the grave in 1898. Up
ward of 100 years ago it prevailed ex-
tensively 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 1853 and
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, in certain localities, eX-
ceedingly malignant. The abstract from
the mortality of the disease shows that,
from this time until 1864, diphtheria had
become a serious enemy to human life in
New York. In the spring of 1853 the
disease appeared in Albany, and 1900
cases were recognized in the first ten
months of it's prevalence, and 179 deaths
were registered. During all this period
not case occurred in Troy, city only
ven,miles distant. During 1860 and
1861 diphtheria prevailed as local eD-
idemic in many towns throughout the
Union, and the fact was gradually &C
knowledged that it was, in a certain way,
infectious. The actual deaths charged
to the disease in New York in 1874 were,
up to Dec. 10, 1866, being 514 in excess
of the number registered in 1873.
A paper read by DR.. Lewis Smith gave
a review of the cause and nature OF
diphtheria. The malady is contagious
through exhalations from the surface
and from the breath Of. the patient. The
theory is pretty clearly substantiated that
the disease owes it's origin to the pres
ence of 6dcteriG-small vegetable para
sites. The grayish-white spots that APP
pear upon inf1amed surfaces at the
composed of bacteria, which, if not pre-
vented, multiply rapidly, and, by bur
rowing in the tissues, infect the whole
system. This bacterian theory, developed
by microscopical investigations, is sup
ported by the fact that diphtheria pre-
walls most in localities favorable to the
development of low forms of animal
and vegetable life, as in crowded and
filthy rooms and in low grounds. Con-
irmation of the theory is also found in
the fact that the disease begins in a single
spot and may then be easily cured. 1t is
only in later stages that it becomes a
dangerous malady. But DR.. Smith con-
siders that an important factor in the
propagation of the disease is a predis-
posing condition of the system. BAG
terra sometimes exist in the atmosphere
without producing diphtheria and are
even found occasionally in the mouths of
well persons and when breathed some
times cause no injury to the lungs. These,
with other considerations, indicate that
diphtheria is in certain cases a constitu-
tional malady in 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 1t is never carried by the clothing,
but 10y 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 pro
tected from contact with diphtheritic
patients The same sanitary precautions
should also be adopted in treating the
disease as in dealing with low fevers.
10 have fine tuberoses choose bulbs
that have clear skin, and are firm, and
not long at the top. Bake box of sand
to have it dry, and keep your bulbs in it in
cool, dry, dark place, where they will
not freeze. For early Towering, start
the bulbs next March in pots, in warm
dark place, and set out after all danger
OF frost is passed.-T0ged0 Blade.
IT is difficult TO tell how much a fish
will weigh by looking at the scales.