The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-03-27
SULPHUR IN DIPHTHERIA.

The of common sulphur as remedy for
for diphtheria has been tried with success in this
city, and this paper has repeatedly published the
fact. Diphtheria being unusually prevalent in
Rochester, N. Y, just now, DR.. G. L. Beach, of
that city, addresses the following letter to the
Union and Advertiser:
That sulphur is of great value in the treatment
of dphtheria 1 think 1 have reason to feel con-
vinced but how far tits entitled to rank a speci
ic | leave for the test of extensive experience. A
great deal has been printed in medical journals
about sulphur, sulphurous acid, etc. ETC., speci
fc in diphtheria. quinine is said to be in NAL
aria. In my opinion it is not specific. Many
medicines of great virtue in the treatment of dis
ease possess no claims as specifics.
L do not write for the purpose of enlightsning
the profession, for the purpose of giving to the
public cure for diphtheria, but simply as per-
formance of a duty which 1 think is too much
ignored by ply yscians Diphtheria of malignant
type is prevailing extensively at the prisent time
and it is the duty of all to give one another the
benefit of experience, with such remedies are
given out from time to time useful in the treat
ment of this disease, and more especially as it is a
prominent fact that as there is no very salts
factory method of cure for malignant diphtheria.
l hope that 1 may be excused for giving my ex-
perience during the past month with sulphur in
the treatment of diphtheria of an unquestionably
malignant type. L had treated quite a number
of patients, dangerously i'll, successfully; but a
case occurring in an infant, where the membrane
had extended into the larnyx and produced mem
branous Group, with impending 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
suffocating smell, and continuing it to main
tain an odor Of sulphur constantly in the ROOM
Further, in q certain locality, where have occurred
fifteen cases, ten of which were attended by other
physicians, and seven out of the ten dying, L took
charge of five cases, of which every got WELL
In the treatment of these five cases did not omit
any of my usual remedies, but used the sulphur
as an adjunct. Igave small doses of itfrequently,
and also had little burned in the room every two
or three hours, so to maintain smell of sulphur
constantly in the room. think the sulphur aided
in saving the lives of my five patients. Some may
claim that my patients were not so sick as the
others. l claim that they were, and that they had
all the characteristics of very malignant dphtheria,
one of them being in a family where another child
had Just died. In fact, it was said by the friends
of the families, who were constantly visiting back
and forth, that the five l attended were attacked
the most severely. Certainly the disease was of q
malignant type, or seven out of fifteen would not
have died.
The object of the administration of sulphur is
that it may, by being absorbed into the blood via
the stomach and lungs, destroy the confervoid
growth, and not only induce removals of exuda-
tions already existing but prevent new deposits.
hope that others may be induced to make trials
of it judciousy, but not to the exclusion of other
tried remedies.-BrOOklyn Argus