The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-03-25
DIPHTHERIA,

clan to the City Dispensary l have had
considerably more than one thousand
cases of disease of the throat under nv
care, many of which, both in public and
private practice, have been cases of diph-
liberia. About this, by far more serious
disease Of the throat, we have much to
learn. The stiffness in the neck, the dis
turbance of the circulation, the rapid rise
Of temperature, before any affection OF
the throat is observed. al point to its
being blood poison calling for prompt
and decisive treatment. The two ques-
tions that arise when called to case of
diphtheria, as, indeed, in all diseases are,
GLOW does the disease tend to kill the
patient?" and, 'how does nature endaav-
or to rid herself of the disease?" Diph-
iberia tends to kill by suffccation and by
its poison exhausting the vital energy.
Suifocation may be either accidental or
as q natural result of the throat affection
accidental if, when the membrane is
thrown off it becomes lodged in the
larynx; natural if the swelling inside the
throat shuts off the supply OF air to the
lungs. Nature will attain the mastery
over her enemy if the strength be kept
up and the deposits arrested. With these
rViA,t, to c,,,;7
rest OF the disease and nutritious support
are our great aim. To succeed in this |
have adopted respirator made Of the
ordinary shape and size, the front being
minutely perforated. Inside of the re-
spirator / have two or three perforated
plates inserted, between which l place
common tow (not cotton wool. | then
drop on each of the layers of tow ten to
twenty drops of solution of carboliQ
acid, creosote and glycerine. IL the pa
tient tires of these L use turpentine or
iodine. place the respirator over the
mouth and keep it continually applied.
My next idea is to provide the patient
with warm moist air. To do this have
two kettles of water kept boiling on the
fire. Attached to the spouts of the kettles
/ have an elastic tube of an inch calibre,
at the end OF which is a spray-like nozzle,
which L put Immediately under the
mouth of the patient. BY this means l
get my disinfectant remedies carried
moist to the throat. AS a sedative to the
plan know nothing so comfortable to
the patient. Previous to this take care
to give an active purge, which usually
removes stools of effete, poisonous mat
ter. Internally give aconite in frequent
small doses-two to four minims of the
tincture; at the time freely supporting
the strength with milk, cream and eggs,
with or without brandy, and beef tea ad
H6itttn. AS drink / recommend pat
tents to take as much chlorate of potash
in solution as they can without vomiting.
| have found ehlorate of potash highly
beneficial in all cases Of low typhoid
character. If this is objected to l advise
the juice of lemon-by many thought to
be specific for diphtheria. Should the
system be very weak / prescribe bella
donna instead of aconite; but / find
better results from the latter. As soon
as the urgent symptoms have subsidized
order strychnia, with or without nitro
hydrochloric acid-this not only being
the best tonic, but also prevents the
paralysis which SO often follows diph-
liberia. I have found this treatment to
be highly beneficial, but, knowing the
tendency there is to rheumatism after
this terrible disease, 1 never forgot our
friend the bicarbonate of potash.