The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-02-17


D%iptheria is generated by breathing
impure air, such as comes from damp
apartments, dirty cellars, cutters,
sinks, decaying matters, pools of stand
ing liquids and other sources of nth.
It is usually confiussd to persons from
2 to IS wears of age. The atmosphere,
the breathing of which causes the dis
ease, seems to be full of living things,
vegetable and animal, the bacteria and
m]iccoppins, some Of which lodge in the
throat and form white splotches which
are distinctive of the malady and whose
presence quickly poisons the blood;
hence there should not be a moments
delay in sending for a physician, as the
march of the disease is always rapid
and its yirulence increases every hour,
AS with most other diseases, dipthe.
ria is most likely to attack those whose
systems have been debilitated by ILL
ness, poor diet, or any cause whatever
Any irritation of the throat prepares the
way for the disease. Any person affect
ed should be taken to an upper room,
into which no one should come but
those in perfect health. and who have
not the slightest scrath or sore on any
part of the body. particularly the hands,
The room should he ventilated all the
time, all discharges should be quickly
removed, the clothing frequently
| changed and at oncs covered with water
containing carbolic acid.
Diptheria taken from another person
is more malignant than when genera
ted by bad air.
Treatment of diptheria: Take from
two to five grains of chlorate of potash,
put it far back on the tongue, allow it
to melt gradually, and repeat every
hour until a decided improvement takes
place, which Is usually in a few hours.
One of the best plans of treatment is
the following: Chlorate of potassa,
2 drachms; hot water, 6 ounces; alcohol.
4 drachms; croesote. 8 drops, muriatic
acid. 80 drops.
This Is to be used as a gargle every
thirty minutes. Internally use the
following remedy: Chlorate of potassa,
3 drachms; water 6 ounces; sugar, |
ounce; tincture of muriate of iron. 2
drachms.
Dose-a teaspoonful every four
hours.
1t is claimed that the above treats
ment will curt nineteen cases out OF
twenty.
The principal point is to find out
what will DESTROY the bacteria.
Taunin will kill them in two hours.
A solution of copperas, that is, sulphate
of iron, will xii! them; also chlorine
water and diluted muriatic, sulphuric
and nitric acids.s If copperas is used
as d sarglo, 10 stfbuld not be stronger
than a piece half rs large as a nut to.
dissolved in a pint of water; or eN
t%easpoonful of tannin dissolved |
pint of water; but it is better to rely i
chlorine washes above named: al l.
wonld be a safe plan, should any
Der of a family have diphtheria. tlt
each of the others to gargle the mtu.l
every hour with chlorine solution.
Instead of using solutions, a few
grains of either chlorate of potash,
fannie acid or copperas. known as sul>
phate of iron, may be placed dry. far
back on the tongue, to dissolve grad
ually and spread over the surfaces. 1t
is a more simple method of applying
ing these remedies, and would be more
likely to reach farther down the throat
and to remain longer in contact with
the diseased surfaces than when ap-
piled in gargles or swallowed.
These remedies are powerful to cure
in proportion to the p,omptness with
which they are used,-HaVs Journal
Ot He1lfb.