The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-01-24
POTATOES AND DIPHTHERIA.
A Novel Theory-Children Who do NJ
Eat Potatoes VIII not Have
Dfnhtherfa

A Novel TheOry-Children Who do not
Eat Potatoes WIN not Have
Dtphtherta.
To the Editor of The Chicago inter Ocean:
Some seventeen years ago the attcn-
ton of my father, DIR. Alvin Keith, late
of Augusta, Me, was called to the fact
that children who were not fond of the
tuber known us the Irish potato were not
subject to attacks of that much dreaded
malady, diphtheria. Following out this
hint, lie advised families of his friends
TO avoid the use of this vegetable among
the children, and until his decease he
was accustomed to make the assertion
that rotten potatoes produced the throat
disease known as diphtheria 1t may
not be inappropriate to remark that he
was considered a very successful prac-
tici0ner In the treatment of this disease.
In 1859 the writer visited San Fran
cisco, and was there engaged In the prac-
tice of medicine until 1867. During
that period of time, he had an Opportu-
nifty of fully testing the truth of the state
ment of potatoes being II producer, or AT
least an approximate cause of the cOndi
ton 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 well aware of the presump-
tive charge of novelty, to say the least.
of the assertion, and Tor this reason has
hesitateCF to place himself on record
The CONDITION Of many. families in this
state ind HansaS uTgeS tile undersigned,
as Il matter of interest to the human fam
lily, or because ''hOmO sum, ct Mill hH-
m0hunl dILeHum." to make public a series
of observations for the past two years in
the west. During this time, thirty cases
have come under my direct supervision
and prescriptions: More than two hun
drcd liaFr becH carefully inquired after,
and in eYery case if has been proven that
the diph;h,r:i:c patient had been il pOt;l-
toe eater. and Ina large majority OF in
stances lbs i. III II Sllad been known rs
an excessive eater of the tuber. \ rule,
to hold good, should be valid from both
sides. The undersigned made the fore
going statement to a lady of this city,
now teaching in a distant city, and the
result has been that where diphthe-
ria prevailed fatally last year, they
have, (by the influence of this lady,)
largely refrained from eating pota-
toes, or on y. eaten. them 10 p mod
almost 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 po-
tatoes. As consequence, not one OF
the patients who was not a potato eater
has Feen Threatened With the disease.
In many nf the inland taWns bii this
State the writer hds patients, and In
some of the infected districts, the fami
lies of those who have learned of This
simple preventive, have escaped any at
tack of throat disease, although the po-
tato eaters on either side of them have.
unfortunately, had cases of diphthcria
Which restltSh falllly.
II would not be IN accordance with
the well known prorlivIties al medical
men, If the writer did not have theory
to account for these facts, and special
treatment to correspond with tho belief
of the constitutional cause He has.
but the theory, like many others, is
only partially developed or proven, and
could easily he argued The facts en- |
ior:fclng IL period of-Seyenteen years and |
II knowlefge Of eleven bundled Eases, |
are, in the writers 'esfimation. incOntro- !
sestific. AND may pc sHmned UP as fol |
lows: The writer maintains thai The |
person who does not use the tubcr
known as Irish potato. can never have the /
disease known as dipitheria That in |
every CASE of diphtheria (truc) will he
found - halitual eater of Irish pota-
.Cel
Fine IL. y why palaces should be
more pt1,liit five of ILis p&cpIiat disessse
han lhaHY other foods, as before hated,
IS open 10 argument. II is well known,
however, that the grains OF starch OD.
tained from the potato are different in
form and size from any other grains of
starch obtained from other products.
See Dalton, page SO, ON Hydro Carlo
,aceous Proxiniate Principles.'D The
So proven that he 'startcli nb
Aimed tf0nftle pot;ito' ctit1ains M .,deTi.
eralis principle, MhlcG makes il Iesg
Tor culinary" pinrpnzes than
many other varieties
The writer's treatment is constitution
Il, mainly, but also local. He does not
believe that local treatment can be made
70 rapidly beneficial, as when accompa-
lied by constitutional remedies. But
lpon these points all the medical world