The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-10-25
THE TREATMENT OF DIprnERIA.

The country papers begin TO notice the
outbreak of diptheria in various localities
to an extent that interferes with the
schools aud produces general alarm,
Even the city of Providence has been
subject to a severe visitation. The rural
districts, where new methods of treat
ment and new remedies make slow prog.
ress, are more excusable for the preva-
lence of this terrible disease, but il is ex-
traordinary that II should gain the
mastery of the medical profession OF a
city like Providence. Although after a
certain stage the disease generally defes
remedy, 1t Is well known in the best
medical circles to be very docile in its
earlier stages. 1t is remarkable that the
profession does not take more pains TO
disseminate the latest methods of treat.
ment of diseases which sLagger the aver
age physician. Even state medicine de-
votes itself almost exclusively to the dis
covery of the causes and source of disease
and very little to its remedies. This is a
rational method of procedure, we admit !;
yet, as this process OF the extinction Of
disease is rather roundabout and at best
experimental, il would seem advisable
not TO slacken the application Of known
remedies to the disease where ii actually
exists.
Diptheria is disease which springs
from the growth Of "a real fungus on some
Of the mucous surfaces of the system,
more generally of the throat. 1t may be
spread by contagion Of The mucous SUR
face Of diseased with those Of healthy
person, as in kissing, aud is 10 a limited
degree epidemic. From the local parts
affected il spreads to the whole body, aa.
Getting the muscular and nervous systems
viliating the lymph and nutrient fluids,
and producing paralysis As soon As the
vacterium or fungus appears IN white
patches on the throat, Il should no more
be neglected than bleeding cash or a
broken arm, and there is almost az liuIe
need ofa fatal termination Of one ucl-
dent as Of the other. II has been found
by actual experiment, both ia and out OF
the human system, that this vacterium il
killed by several drugs, the safest and
most certain Of which is chlorine water,
diluted with the addition OF from two 10
I f.ur tfunan tyotptna nT ,ss.tar Thf4 xtgae 4
is harmless, even when swallowed, and
| is pretty certain to arrest the disease. a
wel-known physician in this city, who
has pursued this treatment for 10 yeafs
has found 1t effective almost without ex.
ception, and has IN that period ofien bro
ken up the disease in localities where i
bad ragged violently and deGed treatment
Prior 10 its use, he lost three cases out o
six, but has since used il with scarcely !
failure during The aforementioned peri.
cd. The recent great cyclopedia d
Iiemssen ou the practice OF medicine
gives the highest place to this method O
treatment. To keep the patient well
housed and warm, with additional fat
mel clothing, II necessary, aud 10 keep
the system well nourished aud th'
bowels open are matters Of nursing often
neglected, but, with care ia these re-
spects and early application Of tie RENE
dies above suggested, there IL no need o.
the disease proceeding 70 fatal iermina
lion, or even to the debliating illnesi
sud painful esulerizaiions which go 70
gelher In its later stages.
As TO the origin Of dipiheria, ID
weight Of testimony is that Il belongs q
tse class Of filth diseases, bat furtbe
than that It's source IL not clear. Famllie
which you'd be sclndalizsd st ihe sag
gestion Of uniidiaess are attacked, Will
others Of filthy surroundings escape
This simply shows that our sense Q
cleanliness needs cultivation, 80 that "
msy discriminate between what l. otisl
ensiye 10 the system and what ohsBsiY
10 our falsely educated tastes.