The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-01-13
Mseful aud Curious.
DIPHTHERIA.
4 Sensible and Timely Letter.

The diseas, Is much more prevalent now than
the people are aware of. But the fact that
great many have il under the Daine ef '-colds, v
''sore tiroats." CELEBRATED sore throat 'sympa-
fhrtie sore throat AMI other simple Names,
proves that il need not he fatal or very serious
otbe unfortunate person sick with il. There is
always morr less danger attending II. But
the danger il UNNECESSARILY less when it is
known Ia ba diphtheria, aud called By that
name, than when il is yet in the premonitary
stage, and while the patient just infected with
il is lazy stupid, going about in sort of shiv-
ering, dazed way, with no appetite, and bereft
of all animation. In the season Of miasmatie
troubles it is safe always to have the possibili-
~ Of diPhtheria in the mind, and to lie constant
~ on the lookout for throat affections, that il
may not be fully developed, as TO be beyond
remedies before its presence is even suspected.
II i. q blood poison, with more or less intamma-
ton of the threat and membranOus deposits on
the tonsils and palate. Ii is 50 slow in its
early stages that the patient is too frequently
beyond human help'before the friends are will
ing to believe that anything is the matter, and
then too little selfpossesson is left TO aid any
body in behalf of the sick one.
4 few suggestions, perhaps, will be accepta-
BILE IN this very trying time. As long as the
pnlse is regular in its beats, do not mind about
counting it too frequently. Even physicians
can merely surmise what the number of beats is
to the pulse per minutes of a new patient in
health. There is always danger when il is var
high, and there is nothing 50 grateful as ice or
water TO drink hot or cold. Baths are in order;
the sponge bath, or a full bath of eight or ten
minutes, once in two, three or four hours, pre-
ferably of pretty warm water; 4 warm pack
of from half to three-guarters of hour, repeat
ed once or twice a day. pack is very soothing,
and will often reduce the pulse twenty to thirty
beats per minute, and the temperature one or
two degrees. Hot water TO hold in the mouth,
or to Use as 4 gargie, is also very seryiceable.
cam rsss nf hot at ST. mt
throat is necessary, and a wide compress of hot
water from the arm-pits to the hips, often sends
a very restless patient into delightful sleep.
The congresses should he wrung out very dry,
and covered with thick. soft and dry cloths
These should he retained, if agreeable TO the
patient, from one TO five hours, and repeated
two or three times day, (twenty-four houTs).
Never give stimulants. Whatever food is taken
should DE in liquid form, such as beef tea, rice
milk, cruel of Indian meal or oat meal pre-
fer Indian meal Cruel made to the taste; while
it positively nOurishes, it also acts mechanically
on the many intamed crevices of the throat
stretching, oiling Tin certain sense) and clean
ing rs II descends to give the stomach the i'm
preston of n meal Food, medicine, and other
necessary attentions should be given regularly,
promptly and with spirit, to humor the delirium
or obstinacy of the patient. Strict attention
should be given to the suggestions of the advis-
er in the case. The patient should be watched
closely night and day, and abundant fear should
be had for any sequela, that serious case
always DEVELOPS, that no intersections may be
committed by the nurse or patient.
Months often required TO recover from
diphtheria, scrofulous may follow, OF
paralysis, and affections of the kidneys The
throat and nose, (if the latter is affected,)
should frequently he cleaned with a swab or
dOuche no secretion should be allowed to re-
main long enough TO eorrode and become an addi-
tional irritant. / mention this last as u most
important thing in diphtheria, because so few
realize the necessity of cleaning the throat, or
dare to do il.
The suggestions given in this way must be
incomplete so far as medicine is concerned, but
presume to say that If one-half the cases that
die had had no other treatment but that given
in this article, the patients would have been
saved to life, and their friends.-Dr. Biina, Of
Chicago.