The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-01-04
THE CURE OF DIPHI,HERIA

THE CURE OF DIPHIHERIA.
DR. T.. ~ Chapman, of Brooklyn,
n. Y, has discovered an antidote to
the poison of diphtheria, by which the
percentage 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
about thirteen, or eighty seven out Of
a hundred sufferers succumb to the
fell disease.
Diphtheria first appeared in this
country in 1853 DR.. Chapman, in
1859, lost several cases, and became
distrustful of the regular methods
lie has 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 recovered. He then
tried qninia and found it acted well,
but not so quickly. At last he settled
on a combination of the two, alcohol
and quinia, and, with these remedies,
he claims that diphthcria is more
amendable to treatment than many
other diseases In an epidemic, such
as diphtheria, all are affected by the
morbid agent; but a few only yield to
it. Mature, vigorous persons have vi
.alty enough to resist the disease.-
Children and weakly adults are it's u.s.
ual subjects. Dr. Chapman considers
that there is, almost always, supcr-
added local and direct exciting cause,
such as defective exercise, improper
diet, dark rooms, damp houses. imper-
feet ventilation and poisonous emana-
tions from decompos;ng filth in privies,
cesspools, sewer pipes, etc. 70 such
agencies the strongest constitutions
will soon succumb. The blood being
deteriorated, its crasis is impaired and
it's vitality lowered; and then the
sympathetic nerves, failing to receive
due stimulous, waver in their efforts to
carry on the animal functions.
"All local treatment" he says, "is
worse than useless. 1t exhausts the
nerve force and induces greater injec-
tions of the blood vessels, thus favor
ing the exudation.
'Alcohol neutralizes .he diphtheritic
pOisons, sets free the nerves OF animal
lllt, SuDlutS GHc lcNcI anu iuHCthi III
tion, destroys the pabulum that sus-
tains the membrane, cuts short the
disease, conquers its sequel@, and
shields other members of the family
from an attack Upon the subsidence
of the fever, as is usually the case III
from twenty to thirty-six hours, a
purulent secretion begins to loosen the
membrane, and soon, thereafter, to
detaeh it in faky, ragged fragments.
This process nay take place, and re-
covery be possible, even when the
larynx and trachea are implicated.
The membrane 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 malaria.
Like any other antidote, it must be
given promptly at the outset, or other
wise its potency will be lessened, per-
haps lost altogether.
"Alcohol does not act as stimulaht
nor induce any of its ordinary effects.
Enough may be given to cause pro-
found intoxication in health, and yet
there exists ne signs of excitement or
yodor in breath"
Quinia is sn efficient alloy to alco-
hol 1t energizes the ganglionic ner-
vous system, and thus enables the or
ganism to right itself and resume its
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 drunkard had
diphtheria. He generally gives the
alcohol in the form of whisky.