Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-02-10
What Diphtheria is. =

DIR. James NJ. Kerr,of Pittsburg,
has published an article on the
cause and cure of diphthcria which
is attracting wide attention. He
declares that the disease is not a
result OF sewer gas. He SAYS it is
local in its first stage, and consti-
tutional in fhe next, as result
OF blood poisoning, and recon-
mends treatment OF simple and
effective kind. So effective
is this treatment that out of forty
cases he has lost bnt one, and that
through the negligence of the pa
tient's attendants in regard to diet.
The false membrane to the throat
attendant upon the disease. can be
removed by local applications. For
this rather powerful lotion of hy-
drobhloric acid and glycerine is re-
commended. But the moment the
membrane forms the patient is
threatened with another and far
more dangerous malady. While
this process is going on in the
tonsils virulent poison is distilled
in the ncighborhood, a very small
portion of which, if it passes into
the stomach, produces acrte gas
tritis and thus poisons the blood.
The system becomes Wuch derress-
ed, the action of the heart and
brain is lowered, ordinarily to the
verge and sometimes to the worst
consition of paraly sis, and the pa
tient dies, not as is supposed, from
asphyxya, but from the presence of
virulent poison in the blood. After
removing the false membrane Docs
tor Kerr puts into the stomach a
simple chemical preparation, con-
tanning nagnes!a, 10 combine an l
neutralize the diphthcretic poisors
and gently remove them through
the proper channels. Meantime
he supports the patient witt nutri-
tlous, non irritant food until the
crisis arrives, when wine, or, #
necessar whiskey and brandy are
copiously used to aid III throwing
off the clutch that threatens to
choke the lite ont of the heart and
brain. This OF. the disease in its
comnonest form Malignant diph-
liberia is incurablc.
A reporter of the kGyle has inter
viewed a number Of eminent
Brooklyn physici us, and is glad to
learn that something like unanimi-
ty has at length begun to prevail
rs to the main characteristics of the
disorder. lie finds that the sewer
gas theory ,has been abandoned.
The dangerous pneumonia atten-
ding the disease is attributed to
blood poisoning. The system is
inocculated by some 6pecifice virus,
whether bacteria or something
else, whose tendency is to promote
putre faction Of the tissues, they do
not profess to know. The mode OF
treatment, therefore. has become
more nearly uniform. The parts
first and most tangibly affected.
, namely, the throat, tauces, and
/ mares, are locally treated, either by
f external application or by washes
laid on with brush, to destroy the
false membrane. How the poison
. is introduced from the throat into
the system, If, indeed, it is, there i:
a difference OF opinion; but one o
the best authorities interviewed
DR.. Chllds, who had great expert
ence in the matter. gives it It's hi:
opinion that DR.. Kerr has hit on Al
:. accurate solution OF the process, anc
that the course OF treatment recon-
mended by him seems very plausl
0 ble 1t differs in essentials III N
S way from that suggested by th'
r Brooklyn doctors, namely, TO checl
i the membranous growth witt
strong antiseptics. to administe'
d antidots to the poiron IN the ston-
ach and remove it naturally, and by
9 tonics and stimulants to fortify til,
system and assist il to throw off the
v poison that has already found il;
e way iuto the circulation.