Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-12-05

1
on q combination of the two, alco-
hol and quinia, and with these rem
edies. he claims that diphtheria is
more amenable to treatment than
many common diseases. In an ep-
idemic, such as diphtheria, all are
affected by the morbific agent; but
few only yield to it. Mature,
vigorous persons have vitality
enough to resist the disease. Chill
dren and weakly adults are its
usual subjects. DR.. Chapman con-
siders that there is, almost always,
super-added local and direct ex-
citing cause, such as defective ex
ercise, improper diet, dark rooms,
damp houses, imperfect ventilation,
and poisonous emanations from
decomposing filth in privies, cess
pools, sewer pipes, etc. TO such
agencies the strongest constitution
will soon succumb. The blood be-
ing decorated, its crasis is impair
ed and its vitality lowered and
then the sympathetic nerves, fail
ing to receive due stimulous, wa
yer in their efforts to carry on the
animal functions. GAIL local treat
ment," he says, sis worse than use
less. 1t exhausts the nerve force
and induces greater injection of
the blood vessels, thus favoring the
emulation. Alcohol neutralizes the
dipheritic poison, sets free the
nerves of animal life, subues the
fever and inflammation, destroys the
pabulum that sustains the MEM
brane, cuts short the disease, con-
quers its seguele, and shields other
members of the family from an at
tack. Upon the subsistence of the
fever, as is usually the case in from
twenty-four to thirty-siX hours,
a purulent secretion begins to
loosen the membrane, and soon,
thereafter, to detach it in flaky,
ragged fragments. This process
may take place, and recovery be
possible, even when the larynx and
trachea are implicated. The mem
brane is seldom renewed, when this
secretion is maintained by steady
use of the remedy. Alcohol is as
antagonistic to diphtheria as bella
donna to opium, or quinia to ma
laria. Like any other antidote, it
must be given promptly at the out
set, or otherwise its potency WI.
be lessened, perhaps lost altogether.
Alcohol does not act as a stimulant,
nor induce any of its ordinary eff
fects. Enough may be given to
cause profound intoxication in
health, and yet there exists no signs
of excitement or odor in the breath"
Qninia is an efficient alloy to alco-
hol. 1t energizes the ganglionic
nervous system, and TINS enables
the organism to right itself and re-
sumo its function. DR.. Chapman
sustains his position by citing nu-
merous cases in which this treat
ment was successful. He states
that, in his long experience, he on
ly knew of one case where a drunk
ard had the diplhtthSerj:a;. Tie He re gen. a,
of whiskey.
The Springfield Republican says
as follows regading the disease:
Diptheria is a disease which
springs from the growth of a real
fungus on some of the mucous sur
faces of the system, more generally
of the throat. AS soon as the vac
terium or fungus appears in white
patches on the throat, it should no
more be neglected than a bleeding
cash or a broken arm, and there is
almost as little need of fatal ter
mination of one incident as of the
other. 1t has been found by actnal
experiment, both in and ont of the
human system, that this vacteium
is killed by several drugs, the safest
and most certain Of which is
chlorine water, diluted with the
addition Of from two to four times
the volume Of water. This wash is
harmless, even when swallowed,
and is pretty certain to arrest the
disease. A well-known physician
in this city, who has pursued this
treatment for fifteen years, has
found it effective almost without
exception, and has in that period
often broken up the disease in To-
calities where it had ragged violent
ly and defied treatment. Prior to
the use, he lost three cases out OF
six, but has since used it with
scarcely failure during the above
mentioned period. The recent
great cyclopedia of Ziemssen on
the practice of medicine gives the
highest place to this method OF
treatment.