Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-02
---------
Diphtheria i'm England.

Diphtheria, SAYS late London letter has al
ways played havoc in Great Britain: but hithef-
10 no more attention has been PAID 20 it than to
scarlet fever or any other acute disease The
death Of Princess Alice has excited general
a.arm Now that daughter Of the queen has
ueen carried away by II, the disease is being IN
NeSttgated. The papers are full of pon1lar eS-
says and letters on the subject, some OF which
are not without interest for American readers
FOR example: Dlphtheria is essentially an in
HammatOry action OF the mucUS membrane of
The throat, back of the neck, and windpipe ex-
cited 10y parasitic organism. Its most re-
narkaDle Characteristic is an oxidation from
these membranes OF an adhesive character. SO
that they become coated with LAYER of ten
aclouS nlster1al resembling a very thin shaving
OF chamoiS leather, whence the name s.diph-
ther1a'-the Heather disease" This MEM
bTane blocks up the entrance of the Windpipa
ana causes Suhoeation-the most Immediately
threatening feature of the malady IT, how
ever, the danger OF suTocation is eScaped. there
viii Supervene specific nervous affection OF a
paralytlc character, which affects the organs OF
speech ana the nefghborng parts, accompanied
py Ire most utter proStration OF the general
system. These latter characteristics diStin-
guiSh diphtheria from much more common vet
less dangerous disease, namely, Group IL is
moreover, OF all ills to which flesh is the heir ia
posse the most insidious, and has suspicious re-
Iat1onS with scarlet fever. The question which
has been so often asked as regards the cause or
causes TO which ii can be referred seems likely
to receive an answer from the case OF the
Princess Alice. That august lady resided Oc-
cas'onally in the Old medieval palace of the
Grand Duke of HeSSe, in the lower part or the
town Of DarmStadt, in preference TO the new
palace built for her husband. the pre.ant Grand
Duke This venerable structure is honey
cOmbed with drains and ceSSpools, and the most
common cause OF diphtheria is the influence OF
the air On sewage products whereby bacteria
are generated, and although the disease Itself
is highly infectious, sewage may be said ID be
the fofts ct Offgo mali The remedy which has
been found most eflectual In England is sui
phurous acid, a specific which must not be con-
FUSED for sulphuric acid, e.. Oil OF vitriol II
the patient inhales sulphurouS acid constantly
and applies II to the membrane with a spray,
the chances of recovery are almost certain, aud
whenever this specific has failed the result has
been obtained by a neglect OF using il with
SUFFICIENT frequency. The effect produced is
the destruction OF the parasitic germ.
THE MYSTERIOUS SIXTH SENsE.-It is often
claimed that besides the f1ve weii-known senses
OF sight, TASTE smell, hearing and feeling. there
is another unnamed and underlined. which re-
VeaiS to us the presence of persons or things
whose proximity is not made known by any OF
the senses named. How often We say some
thing tells us" this or that, when we cannot
define what that 80 something - Is. During the
war, sailing vessel, loaded With miscellaneous
supplies, went ashore near Hilton Head. 1t
was desirable to get her cargo out as soon as
possible, and party OF blue jackets were de-
tailed TO go on board and ''Dreak her out The
officer in charge was particular to inquire
whether there was any liquor on board, but
was treasured on learning that what little there
was was In caSk I'm the lower hold, underneath
the rest OF the cargo, and that his men would
not come to Ii for two DAYS at least. Work
pesan ana In two hours the blue jackets. every
man OF them, were in a state OF the most hope
less 1ntoXfcati0n, had TO be hOiSted over the
side, and taken back TO the ship whence they
came. Investigation showed that Jacks I'M
errlng instinct had led him straight to the groC
He had literally sunk well through the cargo
until he struck cssk of whSkey, knocked in
It's head, and lmbibed itS~cOntentS b. the dip
peItul. mat IL Knocked him Off his pins is not
surprising, but how did he know it was on the
ship? or, Knowing that, how did he know where
to begin his raiding operations? Something
told him. What was IL p Boston TRANSCRIPT
a FEMININE MISUNDERSTANDING that no
man ever saw woman slap her ears or wear
tdimuiiS III beiiooVeS the Sterner sex to respect
iUlIy inquire Why this is so. WOmen'S ears.
taken as they come, look very much as mems
ears; TO an Impartial and fair-mnded ObServ-
ef, they are more delicateiy constructed, and
naturally, not as we'll fortified against cold as
the average masculine aurcular appendage
The feminine ear is not protected by WhSkers
or hair, and fashion declares that the hat or
bonnet shall in no way contribute to its warmth
or general comfort. Ii goes into battle against
the common enemy without arnor, and with no
more preparation Tor conflict than were this the
month OF June instead or December. That il
should escape under such circumstances, orthat,
unWrapped and thus exposed, IL should not re-
Qu1Te Shaping, as either a preventive or pro-
tectiYe measure, is mystery which the average
masculine mind is not equal -[Chicag0 Inter
CCtaa.
THE PILEGMATFC PERSIAN SHAH who declined
TO go TO the Derby because it was already known
to him that one horse was faster than another
horse, was q good deal like the distinguished
PaSha whom Lamartine desired TO be presented