The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-16
DiDhtheria.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN:-Ple al
low me short space in the columns
of your valuable paper, to say a few
words on the above subject. In as
much as diphtheria has been raging
in its most malignant form in GER
tain portion of our vicinity, perhaps
a few words of advice may be benei-
cial to the welfare of the communi-
ty.
My opinion has been strengthened
very much that great deal can be
done to prevent the spread of this
dreaded disease, and of similar dis
eases, by careful attention to the SAN
itary condition surrounding the
premises and the SICK chambers, and
a little careful instruction to the well,
pertaining to their physical health
and WelI-being. In regard to the
well ones, they should be extremely
careful in their diet; what they eat
and how they eat it, and very care
full in exposing themselves to the in
cIemencies of the weather. They
should thoroughly battle the entire
body at least twice every week, and
also take a small quantity of salts
every evening to put the blood in
the very best condition, and to keep
it so. Every portion of the premises
should be inspected, sources of infec-
ton should be removed. 1t is not
surprising that diphtheria should
originate in families that have been
Kept at home, and not exposed to
the immediate poison of the disease,
when we can see through the kitchen
floor, and beneath it, behold is mud
and puddles of filthy water. All
these matters should be attended to.
draineS should be kept MOroughu
opened, low places around the house
should be filled up with dirt, so that
all water will drain off at once and
not stagnate. And then over this
dirt and all around the premises scat
ter plenty Of lime, Scatter it freely.
1t only cost few cents per bushel,
and may save you a great deal of
trouble and expense. Do plenty of
white-Washing. White-wash your
cellars, and wherever you can. 1t is
a good disinfectant and will pay you
a hundred fold for your trouble.
Keep every room in your house filled
with plenty of fresh, pure air. Keep
your bodies we'll protected by COM
Portable clothing and your feet warm
and dry, especially at this season of
the year. | do not claim that, by
observing the above suggestions, it
will exempt you from diphtheria, or
kindred diseases, such as scarlet fever,
typhoid fever, &C., but, should you
become victim to these diseases,
under these circumstances, your
chances for recovery will be far bet
ter than otherwise. 1t is admitted
by almost every one that diphtheria
Is both constitutional and local
disease. In some cases it begins as
a constitutional disease, and there
fore, indicates very grave type of
1t. In other cases it begins as local
disease, but if not arrested it resolves
itself into the constitutional form.
The first twelve hours is the amor
t0nt time to commence treatment. If
you begin treatment from twelve to
eighteen hours after the onset of the
disease, you may expect to lose some
OF your patients, and if you delay
treatment from twenty to twenty
1our hours after the onset of the dis
ease, you will have many fatal cases.
mean in the malignant form. But
you had better begin treatment ear
ly, be it mild or malignant. l have
mad twenty cases of malignant type
In the last five weeks, six of them
having died, partly due to the sani-
tary condition of the premises and
SICK room, and treatment in a few
cases commenced after twenty-four
hours from the onset of the disease.
The disease is one which sometimes
runs rapid course, and 1t is evident
that to accomplish anything satisfac-
tory the treatment must be prompt,
the patient must have the same at
tention night and day.
But, Mr.. Editor, please excuse me
for taking up so much of your yalu-
liable time and space.
Respectfully,
DIR. A. f. SPEICHER.