Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-22
LETTERS To THE EDITOR.
HOW TO DETECT IT.


Editor Sdr:-Next to scarlet fever. not only
In frequency. but In severity and fatality, no
disease OF the nursery excites more alarm and
anxiety than diphrheria. Diseases OF the throat
are as old as the human family; but 1t was not
until about half century ago that the word
diph6eTia was applied TO designate this disease
OF the throat so peculiar In its character and
dangerous In its consequences. The word diph.
therta ie OF Greek origin. and OF FrencL intro
duetioD. IL means, literally, 1.-THE prepared skin
OF an animal and the term was suggested to
that 1t Is constantly observed, when the disease
makes Its attack; that 1t Is always accompanied
Dy the formation OF white skin or false men,
crane upon the inside OF the throat, and this
skin Is thrown Of In successive layers or leaves.
1t u therefore. for the reason, that false mem.
Drane, or white patches are formed, thrown Off,
and again reproduced within the throat, that
the term diphtheria is now applied, and exclu-
siyeiy used TO Indicate malady so severe, pro
nouncet and terrible as this disease usually
Is. The cause OF this disease, like that OF
smallpox or scarlet fever. Is atmospherical:
and like those diseases, may be local ia a
nelghoorncod or general In a city; and
human Intelligence is just as ignorant Of
the primitive cause OF diphtheria. as 1t is of
that OF smallpox. IL arises from a specific
poison. taken into the lungs through the ms-
dunn OF the air. and this poison is 50 hidden
that neither the human senses nor chemistry
can detect IL. The mortality OF diphthertl
varies from one In three TO one In i've differing
10 fatality according TO the virulence OF the dis
ease; t mas no premonitory symptoms 10
mark It's invasion, but begins at once ana
varies In duration from forty eight hours TO
one, TWO, or three weeks. Those cases that get
Wei. usually show signs OF recovery about the
last or the first or beginning or the second week.
and each case becomes a type OF Its own varied
and varying, in accordance with the personal or
physical constitution OF the individual attacked
AN ages are susceptible OF the disease but IL Is
most preValeHt among those under ten years
OF age: that Is, among Infants and children
~ makes It's attack, sometimes Violently, some
times insidiously and 10 some cases 1t is 30 se-
cret In its onset that the little patient is often
beyond relief before the presence OF the disease
Is even suspected by the parent or guardian
OF the child These ere far from being ex-
ceptf0nal cases; and when a child shows the
slightest complaint OF the throat, the disease
should be carefully looked for and close ex-
amlnatlonS repeated two or three times day
as long as the child complains Of IT'S throat;
lot, frequently In the short space OF few hours
tne false membrane or white patches OF dph.
theffa, are so rapidly formed as TO extend
almost at once into the windpipe and choke the
child to death. When diphtheria kills IL is
either nom the immediate depressing effects OF
the poison OF the disease. upon the nervous
system or from the extreme Inflammation and
uleeIation OF the throat, leading to immediate
or gradual suffoca1ton and death. The symp
toms which should lead parent to suspect his
child to be getting diphtheria are, that thf
child Is duh, languid. uneasy, and slightly
IeVerlsD It's face Is usually pale and detected,
and II noticed, some pain will be manifested in
the effort to swallow, ard IL the child Is Old
enough to, TO tax, it Will be apt to
Inside OF the throat be now examined
1t will be found to be Unnaturally red and
swollen. and II white patches, however small
are observed on the tonsils and on the sides of
the throat. the parent may safely conclude his
child has diphtheria, and should therefore be
informed how best to care for II. for such are
often TIE onlg symptoms OF the presence OF this
terrible &n and often unmanageaole disease.
When these. apparently slight symptoms, make
their appearance few parents regard them with
any thing more than an ordinary concern, little
thinking that they denote the presence OF
disease, that In the short space OF few hour,
or days, may place their darIings in the Jaws OF
death, for it Is lamentable fact that IN any
cnlldren are In hopeless condition with this
disease before their parents think them az all
sick. Therefore let me repeat. for the SAX, o.
1mpresSing upon the minds OF parents the
almost symphonies approach of diphtheria that
wnen cniid appears dun, ianguid. slightly
feyer1sh and drowsy, and complains OF pain In
the ear, and uneaSiness about the throat. or
manlfeSts the slightest difficulty 10 swallowing.
let the throat be examined c1reji.TY on the
INSIDE. ana IL the parent or nurse observes the
tonsils TO be red and swollen. with white
patches here and there about the throat. they
may safely conclude that the Child ia not getting
but already has, diphtheria and is In more or less
danger OF all Its terrible and Did constituencies
and should at once give 1t all the care that a
rational solicitation can suggest. The disease
prog ress, and insidious In its termination, and
Is only bold in its destructive effects upon the
throat, and no parent can be too watchfnl in,the
care OF Child when attacked by this malady
ON THH APPEARANCE or SYMPTOMS
or this disease the child should Immediately b.
placod In loom, the temperature OF whtcl
should not be less than sixty degrees. The air
or the room should be kept at this temperature
and strip OF fiannel should be wrapped aroui al
he child's throat. The child may be allowed
It's usual diet, and all the anusements or ths
nursery, and should be kept in the room and
not permitted under any pretext whatever 20
eaYe It's room; even for moment until the In
SIDE OF the ihf0at has returned u its naluru
.oE0itton: and let 1t be remembered
nat Unless Child suffering With dpllherIa S
thus early restricted to an equable tempefatIra.
seIy little hope OF good can be entertained froft
he action OF mere medication. The OaIy meLt-
cines worthy of the slightest respect IN tie
treatment OF diphtheria are iodide OF potash
aid ehlorate OF potash, and these are the only
for the use of which In this disease
a rational reason can be given. Most OF the
medicine usually prescribed for this disease are
dubious In effect, empirical 10 use, and difficult
70 administer. But II is not so with the action
o pr combination Of ehlorate and iodlde OF pot
two medicines. better than any others
known 10 medical men, have a certain and
positive influence over diseases OF the glands OF
mouth. and for this reason: every common
sense conclusion points to them as the medi-
cfnes most eminently Indicated In the treat
nent OF diphtheTia The disease Is often too
doses at the ior9 intervals OF three or four
hours. Doses must be given at short intervals.
and the system OF the child saturated as il
were, with these medicines az soon a. possible
To attain this object sixty grains OF powdered
chl0rate or potash and sixty grains OF todide OF
potash must be put In six ounce bottle OF cold
water. and after shaking the mixture well it IL
ready for use. OF this teaspoOnful must be
given punctually, to an Infant under four
years OF age, every half hour. To child over
Tour years OF age tablespoonful every half
nOur must De given, and the medicine faithfully
az these intervals. and iI the disease
can at all be controlled By human aid tt viii
begin 10 Yield In the course of twenty four
hours The medicine Is almost tastele5s, and
lils.e children win readily think &c water If
they are no, s2ld that II Is medicine, After the
disease begins to yield, the intervals 0. the
loses may oe made at one, two. or three hours.
NO nursery should be without this mixture and
30 combination OF medicine Is half 81 efficient
n the treatment Of all diseases OF the throat,
mouth and lungs or infants and children.
whatever Is done In dipntheria must be done
1t once, and ,ceH dome, or the time soon passes
when human aid Is able successfully 10 inter-
fere. Most respectfully,
j. B. JOHNSON NJ D.
922 New York avenue.
COlOred People.
WHAT THB COLoRED VOTERS DESIRE.
Editor .Sor:-Tbere has been so much talk
upon the question OF Senator Bruce's candidacy