Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-01
DIPHTHERIA.
Its Definition.

7 Its Definition.
To the Editor Of the EVENING STAR.
Ireceved day ortwo ago thefollowing postal
card:
''Will DR.. Johnson please give In THE STAR
the definition of diphtheria as he did of pneumo-
MIA, to comfort mother who lost q dear child
with that disease very suddenly few weeks
ago?"
Diseases Of the throat are as old as the
human family; but it was not until about
half century ago that the word dipl.tte,-ia was
applied to designate q disease OF the throat
The word is Of Greek origin, and Of French
Introduction. 1t means " the prepared skin of an
animal" and the term was suggested from the
fact that it il constantly observed, when the dis
ease makes its attack, that It is always accom-
panied by the formation Of white skin or
raise membrane upon the inside Of the throat
and this skin is thrown of in successive layers
or leaves. 1t is therefore for the reason, that
false membrane. or white patches are formed,
thrown Of, and again reproduced within the
throat, that the term diphtheria is now applied.
and exclusively used to Indicate malady SO Sc,
vere pronounced and terrible as this disease
usually Is. The cause Of this disease Is atmOs-
pherical; and may be local in Q neighborhOod,
or general In city. 1t arises from q specific
poison, taken into the lungs, through the me-
dunn Of the air, and is most active during the
continuance of a cool damp spell of weather 1t
Ia as often as virulent in the open atmosphere
OF the country as 1t Is In the confined air OF the
city; but, notwithstanding this fact it does dis
play its prevalence most fearfully in certain
parts OF city or in certain regions Of the
country. It's mortality varies from twenty to
thirty per cent.
IT'S SYMPTOMS
1t has no premonitory symptoms to herald its
invasion. but invades at once, and varies in du-
ration from forty-eight hours to one, two or
three weeks. Each case becomes type Of its
own, varied and varying In accordance with the
personal or physical constitution of the indi-
vldual attacked. Those cases that get well
usually show signs of recovery about the last
of the first week or the beginning Of the second
All ages are susceptible of the disease; but it Is
most prevalent among those under ten years of
age; that is, among infants and children. It
makes its attack, sometimes violently, some
times insidiously, and in some cases it is so Sc
cret In its onset that the little is often beyond
relief before the presence of the disease Is even
suspected by the parent or guardian Of the child.
These are far from being exceptional cases; and
when a child shows the slightest com plant of
the throat this disease should be carefully
looked for, and close examinations repeated two
or three times day, as long as the child COM
plains OF its throat; for frequently, in the short
space OF few hours, the false membrane or
white patches Of diphtheria are 80 rapily formed
as to extend almost at once into the windpipe
and choke the child to death. When diphtheria
kills. it is either from the immediate depressing
effects of the poison of the disease upon the
nervous system or from the extreme lnfiamma-
ton and liberation of the throat leading to i'm
mediate or gradual suffOcatiOn and death.
HOW TO DETECT 1T.
The symptoms which should lead parent to
suspect his child is getting diphtheria are that
the child Is dull, languid. uneasy and slightly
feverish. Its face is usually pale and detected,
and, if noticed, some pain will be manifested in
the effort to swallow: and If the child is old
enough to talk, 1t will be apt to say cit hurts
me to swallow" and II the inside of the throat
be now examined it will be found to be unnatu-
rally red and swollen, and If white patches, how
ever 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 It.
Tor such are often the only symptoms Of the
presence Of this terrible and often unmanage-
able disease. When these apparently slight
symptoms make their appearance few parents
regard them with more than ordinary concern,
little thinking that they denote the presence Of
a disease which, in few hours or days. may
place their dariings in the jaws OF death: for
1t is lamentable fact that MANY children
are In hopeless condition with this disease
before their parents think them at all sick
Therefore let me repeat for the sake of impressng
upon the minds Of parents, the almost symptom
less approach Of diphtheria, that when a child
suddenly appears dull, languid, slightly feverish
and drowsy, and complains of pain in the ear
and uneasiness about the throat or manifests
the slightest difficulty in swallowing, let the
throat be carefully examined on the inside and
If 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 is not getting, but already has
diphtheria and Is in more or less danger of all its
terrible and rapid consequences and should at
once give 1t all the care that rational solicit
tude can suggest. The disease is insidious in
its invasion insidious in its progress and insid-
ious in its termination, and ia only bold in It's
destructive effects upon the throat, and no par
ent can be too watchful in the care of child
when attacked by this malady.
j. b. JOHNSON, M. D.,
922 New York avenue.