The Wilmingtonian., 1884-11-08
DIPHTHERIA.

breath, and its desolating march is still
unabated.
Smallpox, cholera and yellow fever have
at various times been considered proper
subjects for investigation by the National
Congress, but yet, diphthoria, which annu-
ally causes more tie tths in this country than
cholera, smallpox and yellow fever COM
bined, has never given our national legisla
tors moments concern. Congress could
opportunely appoint in each State a c1mpe-
tent scientist whose especial province would
be to inquire into the history of each diph-
/ ,heitic case in those localities where it was
| prevailing. The nature of the attack, the
sanitary surroundings, the charact ter of the
soil and proofs of its contagion would serve
as an important data upon which TO predi-
cate an intelligent opinion as to the origin
md development of this disease.
| The early history of Diphthera is yelled in
obscurity, yet about TIE year 200 A. D.
Aret@us, physician of Cappadocia, observ-
ed 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 infla-
nation, are mild; but such are broad, hol-
| low, foul and covered with white, livid OF
black concretion, are pestilential." This
and its context has given Use to an opinion
| held by some that the condition which at
| tracted the attention Of the observer was
| the disease now knowna as Diphtheria, word
| of Greek derivation, used to signify ''cover-
| ed, as by a membrane" and first applied to
| the condition in question in the early part
| of the present century by NJ. Bretonneau,
celebrated French phys ician. In the early
part of the sixteenth century certain Span
ish and Italian physicians described the ''mor
bus suffocans' with which they frequently
form of Diphtheria in which the false mem
brane is exuded into the air passages. Last
ly, Fathergill, an English physician, describ-
ed, about the middle Of the seventeen cen
tury, "the putrid sore throat, which is as
| good an account OF Diphtheria as has since
been written.
| Now, although the disease has been no
ticed by physicians for centuries, yet to this
day none are able to say certainly from
/ whence it came or what brought it.
Sore throat, under any circumstances, is
very vexatious complaint, but in the sore
throat of Diphtheria the patient is very liable
to avoid food and drink and medicine as well,
and quickly falls into prostrate condition,
which is the direct sequence of blood -pois-
ening.
| THIS circumstances makes it desirable
that the maximum amount of liquid
food should be ad dministered to the patient
in every possible way. A notable proper
tion of Diphtheritic patients are qnte
young, circumstance which tends to make
the result of the case much more doubtful,
from the simple fact that these patients are
not ouly unable to assist in the Efforts made
for their relief, but sometimes resist, and
thus the best-drected efforts may be defeat
ed. .#
| T.. Nl,n fY,l,t 1nnngif
takes place in the air passages. This event
is indicated by hoarseness and other changes
in the voice, or the voice may be entirely
suppressed. This is very ominous occur
ence. Bleeding from the nose or mouth and
persistent sick stomach also bode no good
to the patient. -..
What effect atmospheric conditions have
in the production of Diphtheria is unde
termined, the disease having been observed
t at all seasons and in all latitudes. Diph
liberia and all other infectious diseases ar,
alike in one respect at least, namely, thai
those persons who are constitutionally veal
and those from any cause are debilitatet
are most liable to be attacked, and in sucl
: cases the result is most likely to be bad
For the reason just given it is desirable 70
: all who are exposed to the poison of Diph
liberia to maintain the general health in a
: high state as possible by liberal diet
" personal and general cleanliness and b
taking the regular and natural rest.
1t is probable that by changing the nurs
every twelve hours in this and similar dis
: esaes the patients would receive better car
and the risk Of poisoning on the part of til
attendants would thereby be material
diminished. The treatment of Diphtheri
must be left exclusively to the physician
who should be called early and his dire'
- tions followed implicitly. Any person VII
attempts to treat case of this disease will
out an adequate idea of the gravity of Il
situation or of the means which are be
calculated to benefit the patient assumes
2 great responsibility. But after all some wi
be destroyed by the disease when nothir
has been spared. The persons wi
" ultimately recover from this disease are al
g. to have very protracted convalescenc
during which 'local palsies" are frequent
noticed. Defects of sight and hearii
,,1n Nl,a