, 1881-02-06
.DIPHTHERIA.
SOME USEFUL HINTS REG ARDING IT'S TREAT

DIPHTHERIA.
SOME USEFUL HINTS REGARDING IT'S TREAT
MEST.
In the premonitory stages OF dphthera. when
the paticnt is affected with rigors or chfiness
Or these With alternate and Irregular Aushes OF
heat. Il full warm bath. as warm US the patient
can bear comfortably, for ten or fifteen minutes
should be. employed If practicable. II this is
imprncticabe. the warn hip-blth and the hot
1oot-bath arc the best substitutes II these ure
not available, warm lamentations to the abdo-
neu and bottles Of hot water the sides and feet
should be resorte6to. II there is ut this time
pain or soreness Ct the throat without much heat
lamentations should be applied externally for
ten Ut fifteen m'n,rt"s. followed ly- the cold wet
compress tt tyered Nth dry ,wel or cloth, and
this should tie rewe. rcappled as often as it
becomes warm nearly dry. The patient should
Keep entirely quiet ut this time, avoiding every
thing in the shape Of food, condiments, sti1nu-
lants and medicines, swallowing nothing but
pure water, and of this only SO much as Is
demanded by the thirst. The temperature
Of the water for drinking may be that which Is
most agreeable for the patient. When the hot
stage of the fever ls fully developed, the tepld
half bath aud the tepid ablution nayb resorted
to. In the case Of more feeble patients, and
where the external heat is moderate or un-
equal, the tepid ablution should be preferred
The temperature Of the water should he cool,
but not very cold.-say from IS degrees to s. de-
Rrees Fahrenheit Either Of the baths may he
repeated ms often as occasion requircs.-that is,
as often US the external temperature OF the pa
tient rises much above the normal standard.
The patient should be put to bed immediately
after each bath, and lie kept warm and COM
foEtable- Much sweating,. however. is to be
avoided, although Very moderate perspira1on
may be desirable. Too much care cannot 10
taken to keep the feet warm and the head cool:
aIo Il there IS the least tendency to GOODNESS OF
the lower extrelnftes nnd heat Of the heu{ hot
bottles should be applied TO the feet and culd
wet cloths TO the head. When there is much
pain. heat. or
SWELLING OF THE THROAT,
or when tue little patches Of nbrinous exudatiou
become visible On the mucous membrane OF the
tonslls, or elsewhere, the local treatment must
be varied accordingly. Cold applications must
be now resortcd to, and employed thoroughly
and prrsereringly until the morbid secretion is
arrested, Sips or very cold water may be taken
frequently, Or, what is still better, bits of Ice
may be put into the mouth and allowed to melt
AWAY, while the Throat is enrelopea in cold wet
cloths. The object now is 70 check the violence
Of the inflammation and thus arrest the exuda-
ton of the neulbranous material. and there is
DO way 10 do this 50 certainly and so efectuutly
ITS to reduce the morbid heat below the point
ct'ngul able lymph This plan has been en-
played i'll thousands OF eases of Group with
Utmost uniform success. Aud in the liberated
Is. US every experienced mother as well as
physician knows, the only reliable resource
II me patient @ Is At any time troubled with
lAhorious respiration. or ell together, uftcr tho
violence Of the inflammation has subsidized
warm water drinking. 70 The extent Of inducing
vomiting, ii need be, should be resortedto And
IN the latter Stage OF the disease when the con-
cretcd exudution is firmly adherent to the
bronchiul tubes, warm lamentations to the chest
and throat are proper. Abundance oY
PURE FRESH AIR
IS quite as important in the treatment OF dipu-
thersn rs nre the bathing PROCESSES No doubt
the contagiou5ncss or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of the
disease depends YER; much on the means when
arc employed to yentlase and cleanse tho apurt-
ment. The patient should be kept comfortable
by means OF bel-clotLcs and fire IL r,ecess:ry
bur on no consideration should all of the windows
and doors be closed tor moment Tie safety
OF o. 4;nefs, US Wei as Of the patient, may depend
der9round apartments, where free yentttution
" doors and windows is Impossible, the mir 1t
swinging the door vigorously forward and buck.
Ws.ru III this Way, in the crowded tepc11lt.ut-
houses Of our cities and large villages fresh air
expelled. The purifying and iuviyor7ati1,g in
lnences Of light and sunshine SHOULD never be
a,srssgarded: a,srsa They ure useful n nearly al
management Of putr!d and Infectious febrile
and iidaniH1atory diseases. When practicable,
the the rays OF the sun should be admitted freely
day the room Should be as well lighted
as possible, But ut night when the
e1ternal senses Of the patient need
quiet aud repnse, light should be excluded; nor
6nouid the talking Or whispering Of watchers be
allowed IN the roctn- T1is Is another i,npor-
tnnt , elcuen1tu tho treatment If any 1seuse,
And there Is no remedial resource So little un-,
aerstood and go generally dtsregurdcd as this
Even many physicians seem to have little idea
q lt5 necessity or value, and will disturb and
lasGatet their patlent every hour, and even |
aWdked Htn put OF Il refreshing slecy1 tn nd |
minister some dose or drug which will do him |
ar les les S,,u than the quiet and slumber that
rue physician Is to know When to let tic patient |
llnne. 1t Is easy to perceive morbid phenomena,
tna tl1 20 COMBAT SYMPTOMS: but to know when |
>aIure Is dong just right. and when she should
.ot be interfered with. requires Judgment aud |
discrimination, which are BY no neans too COM
FOOD AND DIET.
Under this head very little need be said The
'Eactice OF stuihpg the pntient continually wita
shat IS absuruly called "nourish}ur diet IN
1ceeding1y pern1cioua. During tho sc,,ta stors