Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-21
WINTER DISEASES
From Food and Health.

From Food and Health.
There may be an objection to can this winter
disease pure and simple, but there is no doubt
that this disease where 1t occurs is more malig-
nant in the winter than in the summer season.
Diphtheria is really the child of malaria, cold
and want of nutrition. Its quick action in de-
stroying life shows that It has a disorganizing
influence on the blood. and consequently on the
vital principle. We may say it disintegrates,
attacking with its poison more particularly the
throat
CAUSES OF DTPHTHERIA.
Diphtheria is an Illness of the rich and the
poor. since there is neglect of health measures
in the houses of either which may lead to the
same results. though from different ORIGIN
Stagnant air. maarial air particles. coupled
with low or insufficient diet and supplemented
10y draughts, or any quick succession of change
OF temperature or by a depressing temperature
creates the fungus growth of diptherial poison
1t Is the third combination, which is required
for it to attack the throat. This peculiar low
state OF the temperature has the result of affect
ing the organs of the throat more particularly
tine system having been attacked generally by
ar-roison and having no strength to resist it.
low spirits and mentafdistress aid dphtheria-
TACT it is in every respect a negative disease
and consequently, like all negative poisons,
rapid in action.
TIE term ''dphtheria' was applied to this
throat disease by Bretonneau in 1921; from this
term diphtheria has originated. relating to the
formation of false membrane in the throat.
analogous to that which characteristics the throat
IN Group. Recent researches have, however. es-
tahiished the difference between the two. show
In" that dlphtheria is more of a constitutional
disease. The throat becomes affected as the
poison. which no doubt originates in the blood,
is breathed out. and SO quick is the action of this
poison that death often occurs within forty
cIght hours. If the larynX of the throat is at
tackled the danger is very much greater, as the
patient is suffOcated: in other cases exhaustion
or paralysis occur
This disease mostly appears as an epidemic
shown" that the breath Of the patient carries
the poison further, and also that local causes
develop it. 1t has been proved that low. damp
and sWampy neighborhooGs develop diphtheria
as an epidemic in it's most malignant form. and
TINS was most strongly shown by the epidemic
III Huddn@tOn. Michigan. which occurred there
III March. 1881. The disease had been engen-
dercd aud had been mostly fostereu in the lower
ward, which was built on a swamp filed in by
sawdust But the housesof the rich are as liable
TO promote diphtleria. when the poison has
once reached them. if they are kept i'm a humid
low state. from want of fresh air Unfortunately
lew houses are built with a through draught,
and the air becomes stagnant within their walls;
Ii is exhausted of oxygen. and divitaliZeu.
ready to transmit anything of vitating char
acter As soon as an evil OF low smell is felt in
" houSS, IL Stftuiu Ue seeH 10; not only on IT'S
own account. but because it will certainly de-
Veiop into something worse. if occasion offers
ana malignant air particles are associated with
It, 1t is not only that suffer from an impure
state OF the atmosphere, but we are living in
medium of danger that will foster any disease
brought to it.
The mephitic eXhalations of bad sewerage are
also causes OF diphtheria poison. so are those Of
dccaying vegetable matter. exhalatiOns from
swa!nps; low living and want of nutrition are
mo- toto
state CT the system, such as is often brought
about among well-to-do people by a peculiar in
diligence OF living in close rooms and on small
diet.
THE DIPIITHERIAL POISON.
The latest researches in America point out the
diphtherial poison as that of q vegetable growth
In the human body. called .MicrOcoi" The
last light was thrown on it by the lecture of
Prof. Horatio c. Wood, before the Academy OF
Natural Sciences. Philadelphia. who had worked
in connection with DIR. Henry +. Formal to
trace the diphtheral poison to it's true origin
The Luddington epidemic was so terribly dis
astfous to little children, that it was considered
the right spot to bring from it the poison as it
was found in persons who had died with dirh-
liberia The Microco were found to have so
increased that they had choked up the internal
ORGANS of little children especially affecting the
spleen and Kidneys. where the Plant was seen
under the microscope frequently to fill up and
choht tile blood vessels. In ultimate cases the
membranes that had formed were found to be
ful Of little MicrOcoii.' The researches of
these medical men seemed to be Of the most
thorough kind. and as remedial aren't it was
pointed ont that incubation might do for dipl-
ther.a what it is supposed to do for Smallpox
We are rather Inclined to preventives and in
diphtheria as iii other diseases. the best preyen-
ives is Il constant Watchful care of your health
Not i tilnid fear Of doing this and tnat. because
it may injure you, but the following up of
CIR ,r-ri,+ fIr,,
freSii ar; give the body enough nourishment
AVOID Great changes of temperature; dress suit
ably and fear nothing.
TREATMENT OF DIPIITHERIA.
We may here clash with many preconceved
opinion in stating our view of the treatment of
this disease. Formerly caustcs were much
employed to the throat, but such measures are
no longer advocated. and eliminating and tonic
medicines, detergent gargles and applications.
together with a nOurishing diet are approved
Of
To US it appears that fresh air is the first
necessity; we should allow diphtheria patient
to be near an open window. Next, we should
use hot malt vinegar for hannal wraps round
the throat, gargles of the same diluted with
water, and the most tonic diet possible. Neither
qunine OF mineral tones, but hot. strong wines.
yoiks OF egg beaten up in strong beef tea !; |
warm baths made Of camO,nile flowers; feet
placed IN mustard and water. and flannel wraps
soaked in hot vinegar around the stomach
The juice pressed from raw beef, heated in a
farlna boiler and given constantly but above
all not red wine. Limitations of the fumes of
vinegar with open mouth and pensings of the
same within the mouth The use of lemons is
also to be recommended.
Diphtheria is u preventible disease and when
we know more OF the conditions under which
the health of human life can exist. and are in
ciined to listen to it and act according to it, we
shall have fewer epidemicS such as those of
diphtheria-
A BEAUTY FACTORY.
Making a HAlnelY Xamall,S E.ace