The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-12-07
Facts About Diphtheris.
THE LIKENESS OF THIS DISEASE TO THE
EGYPTIAN ULCER AND PUTRID SORE
THROAT.


THE LIKENESS OF THIS DISEASE TO THE
EGYPTIAN ULCER AND PUTRID SORE
THROAT.
About the year 200 A. ID. Areteus,
a physician of Cappadocia, observed a
certain malady of the throat, to which
he gave the name of the Egyptian
ulcer" Of these he said: +: "Such as
are clean, small, superficial, without
pain and without Inflammation, are
mild but such as are broad, hollow,
foul and covered with white, livid or
black concretion, are pestilential." "
This and its context has given rise to
an opinion held by some that the con-
dition which attracted the attention of
this observer was the disease now
known as diphtheria, word of Greek
derivation, used to signify covered, as
by membrane" and first applied to
the condition in question in the early
part OF the present century by M. Bre-
tonneau, celebrated French physician.
In the early part of the sixteenth cen
tury certain Spanish and Italian ply
sicians described the "morbus suffo-
cans with which they frequently had
to deal, and which probably was that
form Of diphtheria in which the false
membrane is exuded into the air passa
ges. Lastly, Fothergill, an English
physician, described about the middle
of the seventeenth century, "the putrid
sore throat" which is as good an ac-
count of diphtheria as has since been
written.
Now, although this disease has been
noticed by physicians for centuries, yet
to this day none are able to say GER
tainly from whence it came or what
bruoght it. 1t is, however, probable
that the symptoms of diphtheria follow
only when an individual has received
into the system a quantity of micro
scopic plant, named by scientists the
"Diphtheritic Micrococus. This plant
is believed to exist everywhere, even in
the human mouth and throat, and when
these tissues become infamed the micro
cocic pass most easily into the blood,
upon which they feed and multiply
rapidly and thus produce the symp-
toms of the disease.
Sore throat, under any circumstan-
ces, is very vexatious complaint, but
the sore th,oat of diphtheria is very
much more distressing than that ordi.
narily experienced, and on account of
the pain caused by the act Of swallow
ing, the patient is very liable to avoid
food and drink and medicine as well,
and quickly falls into PROSTATE con-
dition, for which the abstinence and
blood poisoning just mentioned will
readily account. This circumstance
makes it desirable that the maximum
amount of liquid food should be ad
ministered to the patient in every pos
sible way. A notable proportion o.
diphtheritic patients are quite young, &
circumstance which tends to make tn,
result of the case much more doubtful
from the simple fact that these patien
are not only unable to assist in the eff
forts ma lie for their relief, but some
times resist, and thus the best directed
efforts may be defeated.
| In some the diphtheritic deposi
takes place in the air passages. Thi
event is indicated by hoarseness AM
other changes in the voice, or the voic
may be entirely suppressed This is
very ominous occurrence. Bleedin,
from the nose or mouth and persisten
sick stomach also bode no good to tn
patient.
What effect atmospheric condition
have in the production of diphtheria
undetermined, the disease having bee
observed at all seasons and in all lat
tudes. Diphtheria and all other infet
tious diseases are alike in one respet
at least, namely, that those person
who are constitutionally weak an
those from any cause who are debilit;
ted are most liable to be attacked, an
in such cases the result is most likel
to be bad. For the reason Just give
it is desirable for all who are expose
!. to the poison of diphtheria to maintai
the general health in as high state
possible by liberal diet, personal an
general cleanliness and by taking tt
regular and natural rest.
1t is probable that by changing Il
nurse every twelve hours in this al
similar diseases the patients would r
ceivr better care and the risks of pc
soning on the part of the attendan
: would thereby be materially diminis
ed. The treatment of diphtheria mu
be left exclusively to the physical
who should be called early and his {
, rections followed implicitly. Any pc
son who attempts to treat case
Q this disease without an adequate i'd
u of the gravity of the situation or of Il
Is means which are best calculated to be
s. eft the patient assumes a great respo
% sibllity. But after all some will
e destroyedsby the disease when nothi
e has been spared. The persons who
. ultimately recover from this disease a
u apt to have very protracted conval
l. cence, during which ''local palsies" 6
n frequently noticed. Defects of sig
u and hearing are also very common u
l. der these circumstances. Occasiona
d it happens that those who appear abe
y to recover have relapse of the disea
u circumstance whose outlook is wol
. if possible than of the original alta,
70 Sudden death during convalescer
u from diphtheria has frequently happ
'e ed and is believed TO be due to an
Is !! lection of the heart resulting from ,
IN disease
swell, how do you feel this morni