Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-12
Diphtheria.
HaH's Journal of Health.

Diphtheria is generated by breathing
impure air, such as comes from damp
apartments, dirty cellars, cutters, sinks,
decaying matters, pools of standing
liquids and other sources of filth. 1t is
usually confined to persons from two to
fifteen years of age The atmosphere,
the breathing of which causes the dis
ease, seems to be full of living things.
vegetable and animal, the bacteria and
and micocoppins, some of which lodge
in the throat and form white splotches,
which are distinctive of the malady, and
whose presence quickly poisons the
blood; hence there should not be a
moments delay in sending for a physi-
clan, as the march of the disease is
always rapid, and its vlrulence increases
every hour.
As with most other diseases, ,diphtheria
is most likely to attack those whose sys-
TENS have been debilitated by illness,
poor diet, or any cause whatever. Any
irritation of the throat prepares the way
for the disease. Any person affected
should be taken to an upper room, into
which no one should come but those in
perfect health, ard who have not the
slightest scratch or sore on any part of the
body, particularly the hands. The room
should be ventilated all the time, all dis
charges should be quickly removed, the
clothing frequently changed and at once
covered with water containing carbolic
acid.
Diphtheria taken from another person
is more malignant than when generated
by bad air.
Treatment of diphtheria: Take from
two to five grains of chlorate of potash,
put it far back on the tongue, allow it to
melt gradually, and repeat every hour
until decided improvement takes place,
which is usually in a few hours One
of the best plans of treatment is the fol-
lowing: Chlorate of potassa 2 drachms;
hot water, ounces; alcohol, drachms,
creosote, s drops; muriatic acid, 30
drops.
This is to be used as a gargle every
thirty minutes. Internally use the fol-
lowing remedy: Chlorate of potassa, 8
drachms water, 6 ounces; sugar, 1
ounce; tincture of muriate of iron,
drachms.
DOse-A teaspoonful every four hours.
1t is claimed that the above treatment
will cure nineteen cases out Of twenty.
| hO plibCipdl punt lS W uHu Out Wudt
will destroy the bacteria.
Tannin will kill them in two hours.
A solution of cOpperas. that is, sulphate
of iron, will kill them; also chlorine
water and diluted muriatic, sulphuric
and nitric acids. If copperas is used as
a garele, it should not be stronger than
piece half as large as a nutmeg, dis
solved in pint of water, or level tea
spoonful of tannin dissolved in a tea
spoonful of warm water but it is better
to rely on chlorine washes above named,
and it would be safe plan, should any
member of family have diphtheria, for
each of the others to gargle the mouth
every hour with chlorine solution.
Instead of using solutions, a few
grains of either chlorate of potash, tan
mic acid, or copperas, known as sulphate
of iron, may be placed dry, far back on
the tongue, to dissolve gradually and
spread over the surfaces. 1t is q more
simple method of applying these RENE
dies, and would be more likely to reach
| farther down the throat and to remain
longer in contact with the diseased sur
faces than when applied in gargles or
swallowed.
These remedies are powerful to cure
in proportion to the promptness with
which they are used.