The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-02-11
SULPHUR IN DIPHTHERIA.
The Benefit to Be Derived From Using Sui
phur-Letter Prom Physician.

The Sentinel has several times published
paragraphs concerning the use of sulphur in
diphtheria, and as the disease is unusually
prevalent, we publish the following letter
from Rochester n. y, physician, who il
seems has found the use of sulphur exceed
ingly beneficial, to the extent of saving
many lives. The letter is Is follows, from
the Union and Advertiser of Rochester:
That sulphur is of great value In the treat
ment of dfphtheria, think / have reason to
feel convinced: but how far 1t is entitled to
rank as a specific leave for the test of extern
sive experience. A great deal has been printed
in medical journals about sulphur, sui phurous
quinine is said TO be in malaria. In my opin-
ion IL Is not specific. Many medicines OF
great virtue IN the treatment of disease pos.
SesS no claims as specifics.
do not write for the purpose OF enlighteu-
ing the profession. nor for the purpose of Civ
ing TO the public a cure for diphtheria, but
simply as a performance OF a duty which
think is too much ignored by physicians.
Diphtheria OF a malignant type is prevailing
extensively at the present time, and it Is the
duty OF all to give, one to another, the benefit
of experience, with such remedies as are given
out from time to time aS useful in the treat
ment OF this disease, and more especially as it
Is prominent fact that as yet there is no very
satisfactory method of cure for malignant
diphthera.
/ hope l may be excused for giving my ex-
perience during the past month with sulphur
in the treatment of diphtheria OF an unques-
tionably malignant type. / had treated quite
a number OF patients, dangerously i'll, success
fully, but a case occur ring in an infant where
the membrane had extended into the larynX
and produced membraneous Group, with i'm.
pending aSphyXia, l was induced TO make
trial of sulphur, and the child was saved, in
my opinion, by burning sulphur in the room,
so as TO produce strong and slightly suffo-
cative smell, and continuing il so AS to main
tain an OdOr of sulphur constantly In the
room. Further, In certain locality, where
have occurred Is cases, 10 of which were attend
ed by other physicians, and seven out OF the
10 dying, | took charge OF five cases. of which
every one got well. In the treatment of these
uVe aSeS did not omit any OF my u ual Iem-
edies, but used the sulphur as an adjunct. L
gave small doses OF IL frequently, and also had
q little burned in the room every two or three
hours, so as to maintain smell of sulphur
constantly in the room think the sulphur
aided in saving the lives ofmy patients. Some
may claim that my patients were not so sick
as the others. 1 claim that they were and that
they had all the characteristics of very malig-
nant diphtheria, one of them being in family
where another child just died. In fact, it was
said by the friends OF the families, who were
cOnSta1l ~ visiting back and forth, that the
five attended were attacked the most Sc
verely. Certainly the disease was OF malig-
nant type or seven out Of the 10 would not
have died.
The object of the administration of sulphur
Is that IL may by being absorbed into the
blood via stomach and lungs, destroy the con-
fervoid growth, and not only induce removal
OF exodations already existing but prevent
new deposits.
] hope that others may be induced to make
trials Of IL judiciously, but not to the exclusion
of other tried remedies.