The Republican journal., 1881-01-06
Diphtherla.

There Is no disease whose presence produces
deeper feeling of dread, If not Of horror especially
IN homes than dlphthera. 1t has been something
OF mystery TO the medical profession 1t has
been the great destroyer of child life and the
scourge Of all those communities where it mas Oh
tanned a fOOthO!d. There is nothing else III the
North thatis regarded with the same apprehension
and fear; nothing else that so frequently approach
es the magnitude of an epidemic with excessive
mortality While the need Of a more Intimate
knowledge Of the cause aud character Of this dis
ease Is apparent it is a duty to make public so
far as possible any new hight that may be shed
upon II through the Investigations Of individuals
or societies, and even give tie public the benefit
OF plausible theories, that they have the most
extensive examination DR. Kerr of Pittsburg,
physician who has had considerable experience
with dip htherla, has published a short treatise
based upon his observations and reflections HI
has no confidence in the sewer gas theory and
indeed, says that the exciting causes Of the dis
ease are and will probably remain unknown Diph-
therla IN its most viruent form, which he desg
mates as malignant diphtheria he considers incur
able because OF the rapid destruction Of the tissues
Dut according to his experience not more than one
case IN twenty five is OF this type The disease in
its general character is what be considering and
for which ne proposes treatment His theory is
that during the development Of the dphtheretic
condition and the formation of the pseudo mem
brdne, the throat secretcS N prOfuse quantities an
exceedingly acrli and highly poisonous serum
which finds It's way into the stomach 1t is there
at first absorbed and carried into the crcuaton
producing blood poisoning and consequent paray
sis OF the heart Bat BY its accumulation in the
stomach and It's continued and corrosive action
upon the Mucous coat Of hat organ, IN cOnse
quence OF its acrii properties, it eventually pro
dUces acute gastrtis The poison in The crcua
tioD, by Its effect Upon the heart and brain, de-
presses the vital forces ami death results from the
combined effects Of blood poisoning and gastrtis
He detaches the false membrane by powerful To-
tlon Of hydrochloIic acid and glycerine and to
counteract the morbid condition puts INTO the
stomach SIMPLE chemical preparation, calclned
magneSia, to combine with and neutrallze the
diphtheretic poison, and gently remove it through
the natural channels This prevents it passing
into the circulation. Meantime he supports the
patient upon nutritious and non-irritant food IN
til the crisis OF the disorder is reached when wine
or, if necessary whiskey and brandy are co oiousy
administered to aid in eliminating the Impurities
With care and attention the tone then returns
the poison is eliminated the functions are naturally
discharged and the membrane and poisonous Sc
cretiOns no longer form. Of forty cases thus treat
ed only one proved fatal OF course this is to be
taken for what it may prove to be worth when
tested under medical direction but nothing which
promises relief should be rejected simply because
II does not conform to prec0nceiGed theories
Boston Post