Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-03-03


Notwithstanding the alarming prev
alenco Of dlphtheria throughout the
country Few people comparatively
Know anything of its history. 1t is not
q new disease, but has prevailed cpl
demlcally from the earliest times of
which we have any medical record. A
medical work published In Sanscrit over
three hundred years ago mentions this
disease and describes the manner of its
attack. 1t Was very prevalent in Spain
from 1881 10 1911, and Was known as
gaTrOullO. In Naples during 1917 it
swept away whole families, and the dis
ease was accurately described in 1910
0y French physician, Baillou. 1t was
nrSt observed IN our country by DIR 5
Bard, of Philadelphia, who called it an
uncommon and dangerous distemper."
IL derives Its name diphtheria from the
Greek word d[phthera (leather). This
name was given TO il early in this cen
fury by a French physician, BretZou
neau, On account of the leathery ap-
pearanee OF the false membrane, which
Is one of the characteristics of the dis
ease. There are numerous theories as
to the causes which produce diphtheria.
but the question has never been salts.
faetorily settled. What it is is quite as
much matter of dispute. all are
agreed that it is virus. known by its
faults, but no one has ever traced its
actual source. MicrOscopical and chem.
leal tests have failed to reveal in what
this poison consists. OF its effects, how
ever, we have abundant proof.
The greatest number of cases occur
between the first and fifth years of life,
and his tendency to affect a number
of persons belonging to the same fami-
". This act proves, according to Mac
kenZIe, that age and family susceptible
lty are important predispOsing causes.
This eminent authority also observes
that "ln its endemic form it rarely at
tackS those who live in healthy and
well ventilated houses" Again the
same author remarks: "The wealthy
are sometimes subjected to causes of
infection which the poorest may es-
cape, because, "when diphtheria be-
comes epidemic in town an elaborate
system of drainage is calculated to con-
vey the poison by means of the sew
eTS. 1t is well understood by the pro.
feSSion that 1t may be CONVEYED by a
person not actually affected by it. Sew
eral years ago the habit of taking chill
dTen especially into street cars or other
public cOnveyances was loudly con-
demned for this reason by New York
physicians. The custom of public fu-
nerals has undoubtedly much TO do
with spreading the disease. People do
not yet thoroughly understand that il
possesses the property of adhering to
clothing, walls of houses, furniture. etc.
in as marked degree as do the germs
of small pOx, only awaiting some par
tleular condition of the atmosphere to
arouse it into action. Diphtheria is
said to be more common, as well as
more fatal, in the country than in the
city. This fact would seem to indicate
that with all their advantages for OBJ
tanning pure air and pure water conn
try people are generally careless as TO
The proper ventilation of their dwell. |
ing houses, the condis;an of their eel |
lars. and as 10 the relations their water
wells hesg 10 iheir stables and house
drains. However. they are getting to |
these things better. and if |
: he theatres of the perpetuation of
dIphtheTia be correct, the time NAV
come when it will be with them but
memory of the past.