New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-02-12
Diphtherla In England.

Her husband and five of her children
had been stricken down with diph-
liberia, and, although her physician had
strictly warned her not to come in:close
co4tact with any of them, the strength
Of her affection led her to take Rer
place by the bedside of the sufferers
and to minister to them, and in one in.
cautious moment, overcome with grief.
70 embrace one Of the children, there.
by, as Beaconsfield touchingly said in
his address to Parliament, receiving
the kiss Of death. The peculiar circum-
stances OF her death, and the alarming
manner in which this insidious and
malignant disease swept through the
Princely household, has given the Lon
don Times occasion for disquisition
upon the disease itself which possesses
unusual interest as disclosing some
facts not generally known.
Although we are accustomed to re-
gard diphtheria as an old and familiar
disease, and although it has existed in
many countries from very ancient
times, it is comparatively new in Eu-
rope. 1t did not attract attention in
England until thirty years ago. In the
winter of 1859 it became very preva-
lent, and inthose two years it swept OF
10000 people. In 1860 the number of
deaths declined to about 5000. In 1873
ihere were 8, 53l dsaths; in 1874, 8, $50; in
1875, 1926; and in 1876, 500, thus
showing q yearly average of about
5000 deaths from disease concerning
the propagation and prevention OF
which it is apparent that the English
practitioners are still densely ignorant.
TIE, utmost light that the Times can
throw upon it is that it certainly spreads
by contagion, but that the activity of
its contagiousness is so influenced By
individual susceptibilities that it is diff
ficult to draw any line between the eff
fects of infection and the consequences
Of personal liberty. While the COM
munication of the disease by personal
contact is uncertain, it thinks that the
ordinary modes of propagation are
rather ''from infection lurking in houses
or places than by any such conveyance
az that which is familiar to us in many
other maladies.'' One of the best med
ical authorities in England, cited by the
Times, comes no nearer certainty than
the following: II know Of no instance
Of the disease being carried from one
house to another by the passing to and
fro OF those who were themselves I'M
affected but the presence of one sick
person in q house is sufficient for its
communication to the susceptible, how
ever carefully kept apart; SO that the
t.,s;s'o = .hn - soa1e !. eA.sn. ~ w
.usiu!e - ing "ll' anu tno oaager mas
eee.neu - % me 20 % gIeater from J, Ibis
souies' sn'n iloln uAfect coht''glon.
AZ matter Of fact. the English prac-
titioners not only seem to have no spe-
cific remedy for the disease, but are not
as familiar with it or as successful in
treating 1t as the American. They
have reached that point where they
recognize the similarity Of some forms
OF scarlet fever and diphtheria, but they
90 not appear to have based any the
cries upon this coincidence that can
evolve g! practical and successful results
~ tre9tment. As one among many
DOCTORS IN TINS country who have made
2 specaal STUDY OF TINS disease, the late
y. neeoe' OF Inns cry whose close %
analy t'cal powers ana po 'lc OF re-
seaIch ana Pracnce 9 were Proverblal,
may pc cited. Acting upon the germ
s.to any ~ oA.enulns ms inx g eauons
s s, 81 tno losvul .es y Inc lnlclo-
ssopo Nv ns.uls'i vlSlyn W! allow, ne
". on.2 ss.slslleu nlnist'n tnas Inc cnar-
sa ass9. l ,:sio y mp.OIns ~ scatiee AeYer
~ LIZ g WY Ileuus'ntiy lnte.-