The New York herald., 1879-11-30
SPECIFICS GENERALLY DISCREDITED
The Nature of the Disease and Modes of
Treatment Discussed.

rites performed. When HERALD reporter called
on DIR. A. Jacobi. ut his residence. No. ITO
West Thirty-fourth street. hc was met at the
very outset by startling announcement in regard
to the subject on which he sought information.
The Doctor directed tho reporters attention to
an article Of his own which had appeared
Gerhardts "Kinderkrankheiten." and which
contained twelve pages Of closely printed mat
ter giving only the very titles Of the works written
on diphtheria. The inference that prescrip-
ton less for the treatment Of this terrible
disease not likely to reach the end sought for
already by 80 many thoughtful minds Other ply
sicians. will be seen below. had heard less Of
benzoate of soda than had DR.. Jscobi.
To get at the general medical opinion regarding
Minister Shshkin's prescription a number of prom
inent practitioners were called The prescription
may be here repeated
Natr bensoic pur SO soy in az. distiilat a. msnth
piper. ana 400 syr cort aur 100
This means benzoate Of soda Eve grammes dis
solved in distilled and in peppermint water. forty
grammes of each. with syrup of orange peel. ten
grammes. This would give about sixteen doses Of
teaspoonful. but the prescription docs not state in
what quantities the medicine is to be taken. 1t will
be noticed also it is prescribed for child
ESSENTIAL FACTS
DR.. Beverley Robinson. of No. 81 West Thirty-nfth
street, specialist in the disease Of diphtheria,
stated that there was nothing new in benzoate Of
soda; but that it was not. far as he knew. COM
monty used. He did not know any physician who
prescribed it. So many specifics were introduced as
remedies for diphtheria that this might or
might not be Of some use. He himself had intro
duced one, and while physicians found It
admirably others did not think we'll Of 1t. In
fact, physicians had each method Of his
own for trcatment-not his own specific, but .
maj thOd haae n nriu Earh
naturally leaned to the instructions he received from
his teachers. It is impossible to say in what the
contagious nature consists how the disease is
caused. Tho trouble is that cases which are not
diphtherta are classed such and Q result the
remedies applied and which arc supposed to have
effected euro are then supposed to be ecacious in
genuine cases Of the disease. Among those who sd-
NIT the parasitic nature Of dphhertic poison there
is difference Of convection in regard to the way in
which monads penetrate the system. Accord
ing to some authorities they are taken up
Immediately by the circulatory system and
occasion the outbreak of the disease under the form
Of constitutional phenomena which become the re-
suit Of blood changes. possibly Of chemical sort
BY others 1t s believed that general manifestations
grave import only follow after Shorter longer
period. the primary local signs which are evident
upon the mucous membrane of the fauces and ton
sils. These distinct theories Of the processes by
OeCOm0
fected by the diphtheritic poison important be-
cause they also lead to variances of treatment.
Medical men who believe in the primary local nature
OF the disease. and who acknowledge. also.
the direct agency Of lower forms OF organ
lied life in oocssioning it. attribute the
sntiseptic drugs applied topicslIy In weaker or
stronger combinations Those who admit the ex.
;ssncs Of blood poisoning BY similar Organisms
throat manifestations to be but consequence Of the
blood changes already produced, and that the bac-
Innings only concomitsnt fact of very secon-
dairy value extremely anxious to start remedial
sy
disposed to attribute importance to local spplics
tions.
Is IT PARAmrrcf
Is diphthcria In reality Of parasitic nature. may
thereupon be asked. and is 1t rational to continue
a the
acter Of diphtheria Is to-day accepted by all. The
inoculability OF the disease is not universally sd
mitted. DR.. Robinson believed 1t was IN inoculabe
disease, and nearly II not quite ~ certain to be
transmitted in this manner varioia Practically.
tion should re paid to the condition Of the cults
covering tho fingers and hands again, after oper.
alton. care should be taken to avoid placing ones
face too close to Immediately In front OF the neck
of the patient for during the first effort Of expiration
which follows the opening made into the windpipe
and also the insertion Of the tube contagious prod
ucts thrown to some distance and may alight
upon the operator, and thus direct transmits
sion Of the disease For the treatment Of the disease
he had found powder of cubebs be the most reli-
ablo medicine. In 1872. when he was resident ply
sician at tho Paris Hospital. there was q chdren's
diphtherian epidemic and he had had experience Of
the disease in all its forms.
Dr. Thomas +. Healy, or No. 800 West Nineteenth
street. stated that he was aware that recently there
had been some discussion going on In German
medical literature about benzoate OF soda, the drug
named in the Russian Minister'S prescription. But
he had never himself prescribed benzoato of soda
for diphtheria. nor did he know any physician In
the city who had done He felt sure that IL was
not in common use among practitioners. As to its
medfCine poak
because test alone. and IN abundant test at that
would be required before it would receive full recog
presented . cure for diphtheria that q
physician had TO be very careful and accept those
CATION. This disease Of diphtheria had occupied the
attention OF very able specialists and the practice
now stood there was reasonable safety he said. in
the advances that had been made.
DIR. Healy then consulted some OF the works on the
subject in his library and directed the reporters at
tention to the following ~ defining what bcnzoin
is:-"Bcnzoic acid is local irritant acting on the
general system rs stimulant with particular atten-
ton to the mucous surfaces"
"Benzoin s the concrete Juice Of styrax benzoin
(trecl found In Sumatra, Java. Borneo and SIAM"
In further conversation the Doctor stated that ben
tor infammation OF the throat. Chlorate OF potss.
stun and muriatc tincture Of iron werc also given
for these diseases.
On. LOOMS OPINIONS
DIR Loomis was called on ut his residence, No. 81
West Thirty-fourth street. He said he never pre-.
did not know that other physicians were In the
habit of prescribing 1t. Ho did not beliove IL was
commonly In use. Any number Of remedies wcro
being constantly presented for diphthera and re-
Quired care in accepting them. There nothing
specially to recommend this medicine moro than
others already well known to the profession.
DR.. Delaheld, of No. IL West Thirty second street.
attached Importance at all to the prcscrip pton.
There was nothing in the drug that would warrant
the belief that anything new had been discovered.
1t had been well known for long time. though not
In the combination rs a remedy for diphtheria. As
to its proving to bo q for diphtheria time
alone could determine. but these were
stantly arising. and, after time. as surely disap
pearing.
Dr. George NJ. Lefferts. who has devoted much
time to tho disease. called at his residence.
No. West Thrty-third street. He consulted sew
ernl WORKS In his library and showed the reporter
where soda. In two different forms. had been long
In use IN the treatment of diphtheria. The doctor
said that therc never had been found specific tor
dphtheria and this was not In tho hrst place,
he said, constitutional treatment, rs we'll local,
was necessity in tho treatment OF genuine case
OF diphthcria. so far rs tho Russian Minister'S
prescription was concerned, he said that the drug
was nm old n m had becu laed before in ha