The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-02-06
POTATOES AND DIPHTHERIA.
Novel Theory of n Nebraska Doctor. VIII,
Claims Diphtheria is Produced by Xxx
cessive Use OF Potatoes.


Novel Theory of n Nebraska Doctor. who
Claims Diphtheria is Produced by Xxx
cessive Use of Potatoes.
Melville @. Keith, M. D., of Lincoln,
Neb., writes to the Chicago Inter Ocean
as follows: Some seventeen years ago
the attention of my father, DIR. Alvan
Keith, late Of Augusta, Me-, was called
to the fact that children who were not
fond of hetuber known as Irish potatoes
we're not subject to attacks of that much.
dreaded malady diphtheria. Following
out this hint, he advised families of his
friends to avoid the use of this vegeta-
BILE among the children, and until his
decease he was accustomed to make the
assertion that rotten potatoes produce
the throat disease known as diphtheria.
1t may not be inappropriate to remark
that he was considered a very success
full practitioner in the treatment of this
disease.
In 1866 the writer visited San Fran
cisco, and was there engaged in the
practice OF medicine until 1867. During
that period of time he had an opportun-
ity of fully testing the truth of the
statement of potatoes being producer,
or at least an approximate cause of the
condition known as diphtheria. In 305
cases in and about San Francisco, the
fact was noted that every one who had
the true diphtheria was an eater OF Irish
potatoes. The writer is we'll 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 a matter of interest to the hu-
man family to make public series of
the West. 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 a potato
eater; and in 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 very intelligent
lady of this city, now teacher in a dis
tant city, and the result has been that
where the diphtheria prevailed fatally
last year they have (by the influence of
this LADY, largely refrained from eating
potatoes, or only eaten them to very
moderate extent, and the disease is al
most unknown. In my practice in this
city and county the offer has been to
treat any one free of compensation, if
they would avoid the use Of Irish pota-
toes. AS a sequence not one of the pa.
tients who was not a 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-
tunately had cases of diphtheria which
resulted fatally.
1t would not be in accordance with the
well-known proclivities of medical men
if the writer did not have theory to
account for these facts. and 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 LOO 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 diphtheria; that in every case OF
diphtheria (true) will be found an
habitual eater Of Irish potatoes.