Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-01-26
DIP THERIA, WHAT 1T IS AND
HOW TO CURE 1T.
BY. NJ. CORA BLAND, NJ. D.

BY. NJ. CORA BLAND, VI. ID.
Diptheria is a disease of the blood
of the septic type, and belongs to the
same family as scarlet fever.
1t is always produced by living
germs, which, when once in the sys-
:em, increase rapidly by propagation
and feed on the blood, first inflaming
it and finally making combined and
vigorous attack upon the mucous sur,
face and glands of the throat. 1t is Of
the greatest Importance that the peo-
pie as well as the physician should un-
derstand this disease, and it is especi-
ally important that the people under
stand it, for the reason that the major
ity of physicians do not. 1t is the
most insidious. dangerous. and if not
properly treated, most fatal disease.
Yet physicians who understand it nev-
er lose case. l have been called upon
to treat many cases of this disease, and
have never yet lost one. And if the
women of the country were intelligent
upon the subject of its character and
symptoms, and familiar with the use
of such simple remedies as are in the
reach of all it would be entirely shorn
of its terrors, for then if by accident
one person in family or neighborhood
should be attacked by it, they could be
readily cured not only, but it could be
prevented from attacking others. l
have said it is septic disease. There
fore the secret of its prevention lies
almost wholly in the use of an antisep-
tic. Pure air is the great universal
antiseptic. What / mean by pure air
is air containing its natural proportions
of nitrogen, oxygen, and ozone. Such
atmosphere is fatal to all forms of dis
ease-producing germs They cannot
live in it. But as we are not yet able
always to have perfectly pure air. We
have, however, learned how to purify
it on limited scale, and | have scarce
doubt but science will yet teach US
how to do so on general universal
scale. When case of diphtheria oc-
ours in a family, we should know that
the patient caught it from some other
person afflicted with it, either directly
or indirectly, for it cannot arise spon-
taneously. The germs may he carried
in the clothing from on, person to an
other. In this way, physicians uncon-
sciously o. carelessly spread this and
other diseases throughout whole neigh
borhoods.
Until within few years small pox
was most fatal disease, spreading
through whole communities and killing
people by hundreds Now it rarely
proves fatal, and never becomes cpl
demic, except where the people and the
physicians are alike ignorant of santa
ry science.
1t is not vaccination that has sub
dued this terrible pestilence, but disin-
fectants-correct habits of diet and
fresh air, sanitary science and common
sense. A year and half ago we were
called to see a case of diphtheria by j.
physician of forty years. experience,
who had lost two other cases in the
same family within as many weeks
He said to US, like an honest man: II
do not know how to cure this new dis
ease, and ] am ready to adopt any
treatment that you may recommend"
We replied, this house has the diphthe-
ria, and the first thing to do is 10 cure
it." He expressed astonishment, and
asked for an explanation. "Why,"
said I, "the atmosphere of the house
the walls, the carpets, the beds, and
the clothing of its occupants are full of
diphtheretic disease germs, which must
be destroyed or the child will die; other
members of the family follow it; and
from here the disease will spread to the
neighboring houses, carried in the
clothes of visitors" In the language
of an ancient poet, said: Bring me
sulphur, that | may fumigate the
ROOM" and I improved upon the an
cient prescription adding tar. The
house was thoroughly saturated with
the fumes of tar and sulphur The
windows and doors were then thrown
open that the fresh air and sunlight
might enter and carry off the disease
charged vapors. Prescribing for the
patient appropriate anti-septics as in
ternal remedies, and liquid ozone as
gargle for the throat, then in the first
state of liberation, / departed The
child recovered rapidly, nor did any
other cases occur in that family.
| repeat, the cause of the disease is
living germs, and the chief remedy is
disinfection. Destroy the germs Of
disease in the patient and in the house,
and the work is done.
Disinfection is the basis of sanitary
science, and it is of the utmost import
ance that those who preside over the
house should understand this and
should be familiar with the virtues of
tie leading or most powerful disinfec-
tants.
"Disease," says Professor Tyndall,
"is produced from seeds planted in the
system, which, finding their proper
soil and temperature, develop and null
tiply." 1t is vital process, not a
chemical one Chemical substances
have no power to multiply themselves.