The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-02-13
POTATOES AND DIPHTHERIA.
Novel Theory of q Nebraska Doctor. who
Claims Diphtherln 10 Produced By Ex-
ctssivo Use OF Potatoes.


Claims Diphtherln IL Produced By Ex-
cessive Use OF Potatoes.
Melville G. Keith, N. D., Of Lincoln,
Neb,, writes to the Chicago Inter- Ocean
as follows: Some seventeen years ago
the attention OF my father, DR.. Alvan
Keith, late Of Augusta, Me-, was called
to the fact that children who were not
fond OF hetuber known as Irish potatoes
were not subject to attacksof that much
dreaded malady diphtheria. Following
out Ghis hint, he advised families OF his
frier.ds to avoid the use Of this vegeta-
BILE t.mong the children. and until his
dece ase he was accustomed to make the
assertion that rotten potatoes produce
the throat disease known as dlphtherla.
It may not be inappropriate to remark
that he was considered very success
full practitioner in the treatment OF this
disease.
In. 1885 the writer visited San Fran
cisco, and was there engaged in the
prac ice Of medicine until 1857. During
that period of time he had an opportun-
ity of fully testing the truth OF the
statement Of potatoes being producer,
or ali least an approximate cause OF the
condition known as diphtheria. In 300
case, in and about San Francisco, the
fact was noted that every one who had
the true diphtheria was an eater OF Irish
pota toes. The writer is well aware OF
the presumptive charge of novelty, to
say the least of the assertion, and for
this reason has hesitated to place himself
on record. The condition Of many fami-
lies IN the West, and more especially in
this State and Kansas, urges the under
signed, as matter of interest to the hu-
man family to make public series OF
observations for the past two years in
the Vest. During this time thirty cases
have come under my direct supervision
and prescriptions. More than 200 have
been carefully inquired after, and in
every case it has been proven that the
diphtheritic patient had been potato.
eater; and in a large majority OF in
stances the patient had been known as
an excessive eater of the tuber. A rule
to hold good should he valid from both
sides. The undersigned made the fore
going statements to q very Intelligent
lady of this city, now teacher in q dis
tant city, and the result has been that
where the diphtheria prevailed fatally
last year they have (by the influence Of
this .ady) largely refrained from eating
potatoes, or only eaten them to a very
modarate extent, and the disease is al
most unknown. In my practice in this
city md county the offer has been to
treat any one free of compensation, II
they would avoid the use Of Irish pota-
toes. As sequence not one of the pa
tients who was not potato-eater has
been threatened with the disease. In
many OF the inland towns OF. this State,
the writer has patients, and in some OF
the infected districts the families of
those who have learned of this simple
preventive have escaped any attack OF
throat disease, although the potato-eat-
ers On either side of them have unfor-
tuna5ely had cases Of diphtheria which
resulted fatally.
It would not be in accordance with the
we'll known procliyities OF medical men
if the writer did not have theory to
account for these facts. and a special
treatment to correspond with the belief
of the constitutional cause. He has;
but the theory, like many others, is
only. partially developed or proven, and
could easily be argued. The facts, en-
bracing period of seventeen years and
a knowledge of 100 cases, are, in the
writer's estimation, incontrovertible, and
may be summed up as follows: The
writer maintains that the person who
does not use the tuber known as Irish
potato can never have the disease known
as 6iphtheria; that in every case OF
diphGheria (true) will be found an
habitual eater OF Irish potatoes.