The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-29
DIPHTHERIA.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HORSE CARS PRopAoAT1No
THE DIsEAsE-EAsr SIDE DOCTORS IN COUNCIL.
The increase in the number Of fatal cases OF
diphtheria and the spread OF this disease through.
out the city, especially on the east side, has thor
0ughly aroused the doctors composing the Medical
Board Of the Eastern Dispensary to the necessity
and urgency OF devising some means by which the
spread OF this contagious and infectious epidemic
may be stopped; also to deter mine upon the best
methods to be used in treating the disease when
1t has once attacked the patient.
Several meetings have lately been held by this
Board, at the Dispensary corner Of Grand ana
Essex streets, for the purpose OF discussing tho
question and arriving FIRST at a correct view OF the
causes operating to bring on diphtheria; second.
to determine whether 1t Is q contagious or mice.
tlous disease and third, to settle upon the proper
treatment to be prescribed. Yesterday again
q meeting was held, with DR.. Sullivan In the chair
at which were present Drs Garrish, NJ. s. ButtleA
Fuller walker, G. b. SklG, Gangert Fluhrur and
Prescott After the reading OF the minutes pa
per was read by DR.. M $. Buttles setting forth his
theory that diphtherla is a contagious disease and
commences as q local disease, brought on by con.
tact OF q parasite. evolved from patient already
suffering from the disease, with the mucus mem.
brane. These parasites or bacter@, be argued.
caused the false diphtneritic membrane. Bacteria
force their way into the boodvessels and then
the disease becomes constitu tonal. 1t therefore
becomes necessary In the frst place to
and prevent 4, possible Its absorption; and
the case has not been brought under
the notice or the physician In time Tor this to be
done he must use antiseptics to destroy the bac-
terla which have already entered the blood. For
this purpose DIR. Buttes recommended the use OF
Smiths solution OF bromlne page 49,, u $. d.
locally and internally in doses OF rom three to
five drops in water, every two hours, which
! treatment would undoubtedly bring about iayora-
bic results. He also recommended That the nos
trls be frequently ana thoroughly syringed with q
weaker solution OF the same. The patient should DO
Large doses OF outline might also be gwen twice
q day, morning and night. Under this treatment
the doctor reported that ne had not lost single
case.
DR.. Gerrish thought that diphtheria was the re-
suit OF blood poisoning ana that It was infectious
lie agreed with DR.. Buttles that the treatment he
submitted was calculated to be most effectuaL
For himself however. he was greatly In favor OF
giving chOrdte OF potash, and ieedlng the patient
on nourishing Diet but giving frequent and large
doses OF milk. He was Of the opinion tnat the dis
semina ton OF the disease was In large measure
due to the filthy condition OF
TIE HORSE CARS
which were, especially at THIS time OF year, lily
ventilated and reeking with the unwhoesofne
stencil arising from the damp straw, which was
allowed to remain In these moving pest houses
week In and week out without being changed.
Another element which Is active In causing the
spread OF the injection Is the crowded state OF
the tenement houses, where but little, II any, at
tention IL paid to hygenic conditions, and to the
impossbiity oil the people living therein isolating
their children from others who were attacked.
But the greatest OF all disseminators was
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
where the ventilation anu accommodations pro-
vided for the hundreds assembled Is most dis.
graceful to the authorities. In TACT, they NAV be
| pest houses. WHAT IL needed Is The passage OF a
law ny which every child shall be allowed 50 many
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