Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-03-03
How to Cure Diphtheria.
Cont;nued from four reek.

I liz incorporation Of specifics with
=. is merely experimentally recon-
::ended, but in the ice alone there is
much good aud no harm. 1t will
peedily allay information, and this Is
highly important when the first visible
symptoms appear, as it will give fur
.her time for the healthful operation
OF active tones inwardly and promptly
administered at the very first feeling
Of indisposition. The good results fol
lowing an ice application may be CON-
pared to that of throwing water upon
burning house, previous to forcing an
entrance to rescue a helpless invalid,
and perhaps ultimately extinguish the
flames.
Recourse may be had to another rem
edy for checking the growth and par
TALLY removing the inflamed false
membrane in the throat by the EN-
ploymcnt of a round bar of polished
iron of convenient shape and size for
the special work. Cold iron has
quicker and greater chilling than ice,
and little discretion should be exer-
cised in severe freezing heather in
having the iron not too cold, as it
would then cauterize the part touched
end perhaps tenaciously and perplcx-
ingly adhere to the flesh, but the eau
tcrization in u desperate case is advisi-
bic. In warm weather the cold iron
cauter may he quickly chilled in YES
sci containing equal quantities of finely
crushed ice and table salt. A freezing
mixture may also be prepared from
various chemicals which will produce
a cod of much greater intensity if
needed. 1t may not be generally
known that the action of fire and frost
in destroying the vitality Of amin Il
tissue are quite similar with slight
but perceptibly felt difference. If the
freezing is instantaneous or nearly so,
the devitalized and specifically frozen
flesh has not as great sympathetic
hold on that which is Immediately un-
dcrneath as burned surface has.
When this is being personally tested
it is found that greater pain will &C.
company burned and caustically cor
roded surface than a frozen one, and
this is o. high recommendation for an
ice application in case Of diphtheria
when no cautery is required, and par
ticularly so for the cold iron treatment
when speedy cauterization is demand
ed. Still another convenient or more
or less affective remedy, which may be
always at hand and applied in both
the mild and malignant types, is in
the form of cylindrically moulded
bar of hard soap of the size and length
given for mcdicated ice. The soap
may also be alphabetically medicated
corresponding with belief and practice
Of the person using it, but aside from
this medication the soap, in its manu-
facture, should positively be known to
contain nothing whatever hut concen
trated lye from hard wood ashes, per
fectly sweet lard and pure rain water
Snow melted in metal vessels or rain
water caught from the roof Of the
house will not answer unless thorough
ly purified by filtration or distillation
Soap thus made has an agreeable,
sweet, milky taste, and its excellent
detergent property will at once lie per
ceived by the attendant in cleansing
and swes:enin, the morbid mucous
coating in the throat of the patient,
and when dissolved in water alone OF
with equal quantities Of water and
lemon juice containing some favorins
extract most agreeable to the person
treated, it makes garsle which can.
not be excelled for this disease. Be
ware how you use the soap of COM
merce, some Of which may do good and
q part of it much harm. Make the
article yourself and strictly observe the
number and quality Of the ingredients
given. No harmful results will follow
il some Of this soap accidentally passes
into the stomach.
Among the vast number of agent.
employed in the treatment of diphthe
ria, alcohol is one Of the most valua able
If copiously and internally given a,
the very moment Of the first felt OF
suspected prem6nitory symptoms. IT.
great penetrating stimulating, volatile
property, quickly, almost instantane