The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-27
DIPHTHERTA.
A Cure for the Dreaded disease.
fFron tha sciantifio Amarinan1

lFrom the Scientific Americana
Dr. Ii. n. Chapman, of Brooklyn, n.
Y, has discovered an antidote to the
poison of diphtheria, by which the per-
centage of deaths is reduced to less than
one in fifty. Statistics show that the
percentage OF recoveries in cases treated
under the usual practice is thirteen, or
elghty-seven out of 100 sufferers sue
cumb to the fell disease.
Dlphtheria first appeared in this coun-
try in 1858. DIR. Chapman, in 1859, lost
several cases, and became distrustfn of
the regular methods. He had been
using alcohol in the cure of .ship-fever,
and he determined, though contrary to
all rules, to try it in diphtheria. To his
surprise, several of his patients reoov-
cred. He then tried quinia, and found
it acted well, but not so quickly. At last
| he settled on combination Of the two,
alcohol and quinia, and with these rem
edies he claims that diphtheria is more
amenable to treatment than many COM
mon diseases. In an epidemic, such as
| diphtheria, all are affected by the NOR
blfic agent, but few only yield to it.
Mature, vigorous persons have vitality
enough to resist the disease. Children
and weakly adults are its usual subjects.
DR.. Chapman considers that there is,
| almost always, superadded q local and
direct exciting cause, such as defective
exercise, improper diet, dark rooms,
damp houses, imperfect ventilation, and
| poisonous emanations from decomposing
filth IN privies, cesspools, sewer pipes,
etc. To such agencies the strongest
constitution will soon succumb. The
blood being deteriorated, its vitality is
lowered; and then the sympathetic
nerves, failing to receive due stimulus,
waver in their efforts to carry on the
animal functions.
"All local treatment" he says, SIS
worse than useless. It exhausts the
nerve force, and induces greater iniec-
ton of the blood vessels, thus favoring
the exudation.
"Alcohol neutralizes the diphtheretic
poison, sets free the nerves of animal
life, subdues the fever and inflammation,
destroys the pabulum that sustains che
membrane, cuts short the disease, con-
quers it's sequelae, and shields other
members of the family from an attack.
Upon the subsistence of the fever, as is
usually the case in from twenty four to
thirty-six hours, purulent secretion
begins to loosen the membrane, and
soon, thereafter, to detach it in faky,
ragged fragments. This process may
take place, and recovery be possible,
even when the larynx and trachea are
implicated. The membrane is seldom
renewed, when this secretion is main
tanned by a steady use OF the remedy.
Alcohol is as antagonistic to diphtheria
as belladonna to opium, or quinia to
malaria. Like any other antldote, it
must be given promptly at the outset,
or otherwise its potency will be lessened,
perhaps lost altogether.
''Alcohol does not act as stimulant,
nor induce any of it's ordinary effects.
Enough may be given to cause profound
intoxication in health, and yet there ex-
lists no signs OF excitement or oaor in the
| breath"
Quinia is an efficient alloy to alcohol.
It energizes the .gaHglionic nervous sys-
tenn, and thus enables the organism to
right itself and resume it's function.
DR.. Chapman sustains his position by
citing numerous cases in which this
treatment was successful. He states
that, in his long experience, he only
knew of one case where a drunkard had
diphtheria. He generally gives the al
cohol In the form Of whisky.