The Wilmingtonian., 1885-12-12
HEALTH HIN rs.
The Treatment of Dipbtheria i'm the
Past Eight Years.

DR.. Ernest Kormann, of Coburg, has done
a work which is better than original. 1t is
review of the literature concerning tht
treatment of diphtheria in the past eighs |
years. The munger of contributions to tn |
branch of thea subject alone is very large
being nearly one hundred and seventy. 1t
may be a source of qualification to know |
that Americans were authors of about one |
eighth of these articles. The English con, |
tributions numbered only nine, and the |
French about the same.
1t would be impossible to give here any
adequate summary of the many views
expressed in these numerous papers, but
some idea of their general tenor would be
we think, of interest.
There are articles by twenty-four authors
on the prophylaxis of diphthera. These
| recommend various measures, most of which
are known. The most complete harmony
| is on the subject of isolation and cleanli-
ness. The next most unanimous recommended
tion is as to the value of frequent gargling.
| The agents oftenest recommended are pctas-
sium chlorate and lme-water. But many
recommend salicylic acid, potassium perman
ganate, astringents, myrrh, hot and cold
water, carbulic acid, etc. Pencilling the
throat with carbollc acid or other dsiufect-
ants is also advised. Internal medicines
receive fewer recommendations except in the
case of infants who cannot gargle. Potas-,
sium chlorate, salicylic acid, iron, quinine
alcohol, are among the agents enum Grated
as ofuse.
Upon the treatment of diphtheria proper
there are one hundred and twenty-five con-
tributions, with eighteen more upon the
abortive treatment, making one hundred
and forty-two in all. This represents a
great deal of futile activity; but unfortuua
tely science is helped by failures as well as
success.
) A notable feature in the various contribu-
: tions is that, no matter what the agent re-
, commended, it is almost always an extreme
ly efficient one. The literature of the thera-
peutics of diphthera IS essentially construc.
tive. Indeed it is to much so, and some
/ Judicious iconoclasm would be very use.
: full.
, 1t is generally thought that when disease
has many drugs which e'almost its specific
: the real specific is nature. But DIR. Kor.
y mann suggests that this does not represent
e the whole truth for diphtheria. That dis.
"a ease may be il some cases or localities very
i favorably influenced by a special remed.
which is of less value at other times Of
u places. However this may be, it is certain
It that no heterogeneity of remedial measures
,r recommended will justify physician ii
,s adopting au expectant plan of treatment il
~ the disease in question.
And indeed. the diversity in modes o
+ treatment is not fundamentally at al
is great.
d. We find that two authors recommen
nj flowers Of sulphur blown into the throat
:, Thirty-eight authors recommend the use 0
some disinfec.aut as the essential thing
% Twelve give especial prominence to potai
sssn sst tS tfREaS siasd Ys St t. the salts Of iron t3
chloral hydrate; four to alcohol and othe
stimulants ten to the volatile oils and ba
sans (turpentine, eucalyptol, copaiva,
twenty-six to pilocarpin; two to the applies
in tion of digestive ferments.
is There is the largest number Of contribr
lis tions, as well as the greatest weight {
si- authority in favor Of some form Of antsept
lot and roborant treatment.
rs. The disnfectants recommended most al
he carbolic, salicylic, and boracc acids. Pc
le- manganate of potassium, bromine, chlorir
M water, ozone, are also mentioned
H But whether disinfectants are recommen,
or ed or not, chlorate Of potash is the ageI
en oftentimes referred to in treatment. II
rra tincture of iron, so extensively used
L. America, receives less notice among IL
H. German writer's
M The use of pilocarpin is fully discussed
mt On the whole, it seems to be failure. 1t
B. specific, and several cases of collapse +
ng sulting apparently from its use are report
ed
ire The cases illustrating the action of Il
lie mercury salts (cyauide, bichloride, etc.) a
The in some cases striking, but are too few for
,ss satisfactory conclusion to be drawn regar
no ing them. The methods of treatment
he Inhalation Of oxygen, the use of digest
od uces, nuoric acid, lime7juice ch!oral, tn
of oalsams, ETC., as yet nave proved little
NO themselves.
he The abortiye methods Of treatment co
re- sst in the careful and complete removal
tee the first sign of diphtheritic exudaton; d
the very frequent spraying of the throat wi
in weak solutions of salcylc acid, boracic aci
Me or Of brandy. The Inhalation of stea
a with gargles Of hot water, the local apple
,c tion Of strong astringents, or of caustiC
or and the use OF very large doses of alcohC
H.. all Of these various measures received abo
equal commedatiOn.
s n 1t is apparent from study of the litel
~. tuIe which we have here referred to, til
"'e diphtheria has no specific, nor is it like
'ns to get one, until we find something wh
be will cure all septic diseases But, the
the has peen progress made in the therapeutic
of the disease. and an intelligent physics
% oi can save many lives BY judicious trei
ills, ment.
ker -
& The Female Heart is IN JuNta-POsitio
,th TO her stomach,
one A Fruit Cake, a Sponge Cake, Pou
cts, Cake or a Lady Cake elaborately frost
and and artistically lcttered is Il most TAXI
of Christmas Offering d. B Jones sl1 Ma,B
the street has the lead in fine and fan
NJ Cakes.