The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-12-21
Di;htheria.


The Board of HEALTH of San Francisco
has declared the city in an epidemic state
of diphthcra. With view of obtaining
some info nation as to the means of de-
tectirg the disease, guarding against it,
etc, CAL reporter few days ago call
ed upon and interviewed one Of the most
distinguished physicians in the city, who
aid:
There is no doubt that diphtheria is
1loIe prevalent than usual, but Ecould
scarcely call It epidemic. 1t has so hap
pened that there have been good many
cases lately in my practice; but then l
know several physicians who have scarce
ly had single case, although their prac-
tice is fully equal to mine, which proves
that the disease is not so general as some
people appear to think. Diphthera is
us much a zymotlc disease as is small
poy or scarlet fever. II is 4 poisonous
condition of the blood, and the swollen
glands, sore throat, etc, are simply local
evidences of its existence 1t is, without
doubt, extremely infectious, being propa-
gated by contact with the clothing, and
more especially by bodily contact, such
as kissing. Among the first evidences
are soreness Of the throat, often very
slight, swelling Of the lymphatic glands
that is, those in the neck below the jaw
fever and less Of APPETITE, an offensive
breath, and grangrcnous false men,
hrane of a grayish or dirty white, which
at first 'appears,n patches on the tonsils
and then spreads to the palate, etc. If
there is any reason to believe that a per-
son is infected with the disease, some
one should insert the handle3 of Il spoon
into the patients mouth, examine the
threat carefully, and should any of these
whitish spots be found send for a doctor
at once. This disease is very rapid in its
growth, and canno: be too quickly at.
tended to. One of the forms Is almost
always fatal-croupal diphtheria-th is
where it is accompanied by hoarsc
croupy cough l would in some respects
prefer having smallpox in my family to
diphtheria for there are some e-guards
against contagion in the former. At the
worst one can be vaccinated and take the
disease only in mild form. When there
is case Of diphtheria in the family the
greatest care must be taken to guard
against contamination. The patients
cloths must be washed in boiling water,
and be used by no other person. There
should be no od-night or morning kisses
given, for they, of all things, extend the
disease. The children should be kept in
The open air and sun as much as possible.
The windows should be kept open that
the rooms may be thoroughly ventilated,
for fresh air is the greatest Counteractant.
Above all things there should be no stint
ed diet, but any amount of wholesome,
strengthening food, for in the weak sys-
TEN and disorganizcd stomach lie the
main roots of the disease. With. good
medical advice promptly called, and
with proper attention to exercise, air,
food, and non-contact with the sick per
son, there is every reason to hope that
the disease will not spread in a family.
As a rule, child Ell only are its victims,
for it is rare TO find the case of grown
person who does not recover from its
effects
As will be seen from the report of the
proceedings at the meeting of the Board
of Health, resolutions were passed calling
abe attention Of the public to the neccss-
ty of isolating all cases of diphtheria
and the free use Of disnfectants, andthe
Health officer has been instructed, on APP
plication, to dsinfect houses in which
diphtheria exists, and also adjacent
sewers and ccsspools. The question
arises, What is the most effeCtual dis
infe8apt? Evidence was adduced re-
Gently at the instance of the Privy
Council of Great Britain, tending to
show that Carboic acid, sulphur, per-
manganate of potash and chlorine are all
endowed with true disinfectant proper
dies, though in varying degrees, The
medical officers of the Privy Council say
shat the effcctual disinfectant operation
of chlorine and permanganatc OF potash
appears to depend far more on the nature
of the medium through which the parti-
.cles of the infected matter are distributed
Ahan on the specific character of the parti-
4cles themselves \ virulcnt liquid cannot
be regarded as certainly and completely
.lisinfccici by the sulphur unless it has
been rendered permanently and thorough
lv acid. No virulcnt liquid can be con-
ssidered disinfccted by carbolic acid ur less
it contains at least two per Gently weight
of the pure acid. When disinfcctants
are mixed with liquid, it is very i'm
g,ortant to be sure that they are thorough
ay Incorporated with it, and that no solid
snattcrS capable Of shielding contagion
from immediate contact with It's dcst oyer
10 be overlooked. Aerial distinction. as
commonly practiSed in the sick-room, is
either useless or positively objectionable,
owing to the false sense of security it is
calculated to produce. To make the air
.of a room smell strongly of carbolic acid
hy scattering carboIic powder about the
tloor, or of chlorine by placing tray of
s.hloride Of lime in q corner, is, so far as
the destruction of specific contagia is
concerned, an utterly futile proceeding. |
The practical result of these experiments |
-roes to prove GDthat dry heat, when it can |
I,e applied, is probably the most efficient
nf all disinfeCtants; ~ that the old plan
Of stopping up crevices and fumigating
with sulphur and charcoal, is more effica-
cious tiat any other VToc' cding with .
Iuore modern disinfcctants; 81 that the |
use OF carbolic vapor for disinfecting
purposes should be abandoned, owing to .
ihc rel .tive feeblcncss and uncertainty !
of its action.
A fine Holiday Book.