The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18
What is Diphtheria2

a prominent physician who has
given the subject much study and in
vestigation, and who is professor in
the Jefferson medical college, said:
"Diphtheria is popularity supposed to
be product of germ of microcosm.
If this be true, the point is to prevent
its spread or development. Two
things are necesSary-frst, the germ
and second person having the sus-
ceptibility for its growth. The con-
dition favorable to the disease is
where filth abounds and where there
is a crowding together of people,"
The malady has a very depressing
influence upon the system. Some
children are so susceptible that not
withstanding the surroundings they
readily take the disease. 1t must not
be understood for a moment that it Is
confined alone to children. Adults are
liable also to be thus afflicted. 1 would
have you understand that people may
not necessarily obtain it from contact.
The germs of the disease may be car
ried through the air, through the wa
ter and in numerous mysterious ways.
1t is mistake to suppose that physi-
clans escape the disease; number
have died, and recently read of two
prominent physicians in the city of
Paris who, while attending together
one case, were stricken with the COM
plant and died.
The germ often reaches persons from
long distances, cast off from the excre-
lions which fled their way through the
air and into the streams. All the ex-
cretions should be destroyed by the
most powerful disinfectants. Sewer
gas is regarded as means by which
the disease is carried into houses, and
this is easily understood when it is re-
membered that the eXcretions are
often emptied into the sewers. Where
there has been diphtheria every arti-
Gle in thereon should be removed, the
paper taken from the walls and cell
ing, and every article before being re-
placed, thoroughly disinfected. Dur
ing the sickness of person suffering
with the complaint no one but those
Immediately concerned should be per-
mitted to be about the patient, and
under no circumstances should any
one be allowed to communicate with
the sufferer. The germ is usually de-
posted in the throat, as that is the
most susceptible point of attack. The
disease often extends through the
nose and out at the ears. When it ex-
tends far down the throat it is in its
most malignant form and is generally
fatal. 1t may be added that the blood
becomes poisoned and patients may
die of blood-poisoning when they have
only a trivial affection of the throat.
The treatment for this disease is most
diverse; nearly every physician pur-
sues his own, and may say there has
been no specific for it discovered.
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE DISEASE.
DR.. o. B. Cause, professor of obstet-
RIGS, puerperal diseases and diseases of
children, in the Hahnemann medical
college, speaking of diphtheria yester-
day, said: There is great difference
of opinion as to the nature and condi-
ton of diphtheria or whether it is a
malignant form of Group or not.
There is true Group, and what is
called membranous Group. A ma
lignant form of diphtheria is fatal,
and / am inclined to think contagious.
l would here remark, however, that
SO far this season / have not had a
case of diphtheria. The term diph-
iberia, like Group, is sometimes flip
PANTY applied to every case of sore
throat. The disease that is so
fatal is known as diphtheria, of
which you desire to know and
which ! want to understand more
about. There is what may be termed
a pseudo diphtheria-a sore throat,
attended with prostration and ulcera-
ton, and which is successfully treated
usually in five days. 1 regard the
malignant disease termed diphtheria
as blood disease, with a local mani
festation. The system should be sus-
tanned by frequent administrations of
food, in small Quantities at time,
such as milk, beef tea, etc. These
malignant cases may have a specific
origin, but there are many of what
are called cases of diphtheria that are
merely the result of colds. Improper
clothing and nourishment and bad