The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-04-18
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES rs AND
HOW 1T Is CURED.

n Odnduiun uitulCHf pThCt1uOnef
high standing writes to the Montre
Witness as follows:
Duiing the past two years have see
over ninety cases, aud have devoted m
most earnest attention TO the study {
IFS nature and treatment. The conclr
sions have arrived at, will state a
briefly as possible. Diptheria is an ir
fectious disease, and Is propagated an
spread in the same manner as other zy
motto diseases, such as small pox, meas
les, scarlatina, &c, &c. l see notbin,
more mysterious In diphtheria than |,
other diseases. It is not more sinpula
that the throat should be affected thai
that the small pox should show itself OF
the skin, the mumps in the parotit
glands, and tho whooping cough in tn,
lungs. / am inclined to believe tba
: diphtheria, like the diseases alread,
: mentioned, Is not liable to return. base
this opinion on the fact that not one O.
my numerous patients has as yet had il
} a second time; other medical men In
my neighborhood have made the same
remark with very few exceptions.
fully believe that the free use ofsulphu.
rous acid, either pure or combined with
tincture of iron, will in a greater por.
ton of cases prevent the advent of diph.
iberia. For over year il has been nv
practice, when the disease appears in a
family, TO insist on all members taking
these medicines internally as long as the
danger of infection lasts. l also advise
sulphur to be sprinkled on hot Goals and
carried into all the infected rooms. By
using these precautions | believe that
| tho disease n ho nffa,, haa l. q
spreading. My treatment of diphtheria
is very simple and easily carried out.
first of all apply thick cloth dipped in
cold water Under the jaws, and support
ed in its place by bandage tied over
the head. The cloth Is to be wetted as
soon as it becomes hot. The wet cloth
l continue until all redness has disap-
peared from the throat and tumefaction
from the neck. also at once swab the
part of the throat covered with the false
membrane with mixture composed OF
carbolic acid and sulphurous acid, tine
ture OF the mpriate of iron and glycer-
inc. l use camels hair brush, and ap-
ply the liquid as gently as possible.
When the membrane is very abundant
| swab every two hours. Then between
the times OF swabbing l give internally
a mixture composed of chlorate of poi.
ash, sulphurous acid, tincture of iron,
glycerine and water. The internal med
icine make my patients continue to
take for a week or two after apparent
recovery. The swabbing is stopped as |
soon as the membrane has disappeared.
leaving the mucous membrane raw and |
incapable of bearing the application of
irritating substances. / now use a |
strong solution of salicylic acid with bo-
rax, which acts powerfully both locally
and constitutionally. Where great diff
ticulty exists in using the swab, l use
Delano's atomizer with advantage, The
above treatment has been attended
with almost uniform success, and can
be explained by examining into the
causes of death. have visited about
ninety cases, and of these seven died.
i've of which l saw only iu consultation.
Dne died apparently from debility.
hree from extension Into the windpipc,
and three from scepticemia, CT blood
and hemorrhage from throat
md nose. From all can learn, be-
ieve that scepticemia is the most fire.
luent cause of death; the false men,
)rane in the throat becomes putrid, and
,he poisonous matter is absorbed into
he body, causing extensive swelling of
he neck. The parts underneath the
outrid membrane give way, causing
sudden death by hemorrhage. Now the
steady use of cold water cloths keeps
town inflammatory action, and also
linders the formation of the false men,
orane, which grows better in warmth
han in cold. II may also prevent its
extension into the twindpipe and nos
.rils. Then the free use of the antisep-
ic remedies prevents the decomposition
and putrefaction of the membrane, and
hus renders it inocuous. l never try
% remove the membrane, but allow It
o separate spontaneously. The con-
tinucd use of the internal medicine pre-
vents the sequele or secondary affec-
ions which so often follow diptheria.
DR.. Robert Bell, of Glasgow, was the
irst who advocated the use ofthe swab-
Ding and internal medicine in diptheria.
DR.. Bells theory of the disease differs
from mine, as he believes that It
originates in the throat from the
poison lodging there. NY belief
s that IL is essentially disease of
he whole body, like small pox, etc,
and that there is always certain
of sickness before the throat
becomes affected. To ensure success
in treating diphtheria 1t is, of course.
necessary that the treatment should be
begun early and steadily carried out.
After the membrane has disappeared
and fever gone, give the internal
medicine about four times a day; then
three times. | have never found it |
necessary to give stimulants. III
have scarcely used three ounces of
brandy amongst all my patients, III
have occasionally allowed a few tea
spoonfuls where there was q tendency
to faintness. also give when re-
quired teaspoonful of aromantic |
spirit OF ammonia, that Is to say when |
there are symptoms of faintness d. |
syncope. Milk is the best nourish-
ment to be given. 1t supplies every
want. 1t is not best to stuff the patient
with too much food. Purgatives arc |
rarely necessary. l give occasionally
as cathartic mixture of powdered
SIENNA, cream of tartar, powdered gum
gulac, sulphur and ginger. / recon-
mend sulphur to be burned on hot
Goals In all the rooms frequently, of
course giving caution not to use too
much. | rarely allow a patient to be
out of natural sleep. When
members of family have left home to
escape disease, before they return they
ought to commence the use of sulphur
ous acid and tinctnre of iron, and con.
tinue their use for two weeks at least,
as diphtheria infection continues to lin-
ger In house for many weeks unless
thoroughly disinfected. 1t adheres to
clothing and can be carried to dis
lance. All the sulphurous acid and
tincture of iron l use, l make myself.
The acid Is made very cheaply by ill
Ing flask with charcoal In small pieces
about two-thirds full, then cover II
with sulphurous acid, and apply heat
with spirit lamp, and then by means
OF bent glass tubes conduct the sui
phurous acid gas into bottle contain
ing pure soft water, and continue the |
operation until the water Is saturated. |
The tincture of iron Is made by saturat-
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