The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-10-12

DIPTHERIA.-We consider no apology
necessary for inserting the following article
upon diptheria from the pen of DR.. +. +.
Gary, of Cokesbury, and extracted from the
Press and Banner of Abbeville. DR.. Gary
has had very large experience during the
past summer with this terrible disease, and
us he has been wonderfully successful his
views and advice are entitled to most favor.
able consideration. At one time, out of q
population of perhaps not over sixty or sew
enty children, there were forty-two down or
affected with diptheria, and, from first to
last, DIR. Gary had over fifty cases. His
loss had been little over five per cent, and
asss.assnn-sf1 --pcr-eeur:- n cunsnruddudf- u
careful perusal and practical needing of his
advice to all parents:
In compliance with your request here
with send you the following propositions in
reference to deptheria, which are in accord
with my own experience and observation
and which have received the sanction Of the
majority Of the medical profession:
Mode Of aHack-Dipthcria is caused by
the innoculation Of the membrane lining
the air passages with the diptheretic poison,
which from this point infccts the whole sys-
tenn the local inflammation is attended with
the formation of mcmbrance (exudation J
the fever and general symptoms are the re-
suit of this local infection.
SymptOms.--In ordinary attacks the poi
son begins to act the moment it lodges upon
tho tissues there is fever with marked pros
tration, dryness Of throat, and pain in swal-
lowing the throat and neck are swollen
In mild cases the symptoms sabsidc in four
or five days; if unfavorablc the fever incrca-
ses, the local inflammation spreads, and ex-
haustion rapidly follows.
The Person-Dipthcria attacks, by pre-
ference, children between the ages of and
10 years.
1Seasons--Dipthcria is not affected by
either heat or cold, drought or rain.
Precaut,on-When diptheria is prevail
ing, no child should be allowed to kiss
strange children, nor those suffering from
sore throat; nor should it sleep with, or be
confined to, rooms occupied by, Or use arti-
cles or toys taken in the mouth, handkcr
chiefs, &c, belonging to children having
sore throat, Group or catarrh.
The sich.-Sick children should be rigid
ly isolated, in full aired rooms. All dis
charges from the mouth and nose should be
received into vessels containing disnfec-
tants.
PreventiUes s-Thcre is no special proven
tive nor any one specific remedy for the
cure of dipthcria. Attention to ordinary
hygicuic rules is enioined QuiniDe is the
best preventive, and may be taken in the
following combination
Chlorate of potash, one drachm; quinine,
twenty grains ; muratcd tincturc of iron,
fIun
teaspoonfull three times day.
Treatment-Dctails of treatment would
be out Of place in this connection Ex-
anime your childrens' throats every day dur
ing the prevalence of an epidemic OF dip
liberia, and as soon as you discover the
characteristics Of the disease, send for your
physician, for it is eminently true in this
disease "thata stitch in time saves nine"
If you cannot get physician soon, give
the above mixture, and gargle the throat
with weak solution Of carbolic acid, chlo-
rine water, or even the above mixture taken
internally.
The best way to apply washes to the
throat is by means of the Atomizer or by
inhalation Rough mopping the throat is
an injury. None but careful hands should
ever use the mop-a camel hair pencil is
better.
Conclusion-Thc above observations are
not intended for the medical profession, who
arc presumed to know as much as the writer
about diptheria, but simply to furnish the
general reader of your paper with some OBJ
servations about diptheria, that they may
not be unprcpared to recognize it, and should
it appear in their midst have some sugges.
tions as to what is best to do.