Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-02-11
DIPHTHERIA.

S"'O AUS Ou tub SyStem-IFeAt.
ment Prescribed by James T. Sui.
Ivan.
Virginia New Chroniclel
The Pacific Medical and Surgical
Journal, in the number for November,
publishes paper on diphtheria from
the pen of the rising young physician,
James L. Sullivan OF San Francisco.
As sporadic cases of the disease &C.
cur at alarmingly frequent intervals
on the Comstock, and usually result
fatally, the Chronicle publishes the
substance of the article for the ben.
eft of heads of families.
CAUSES THAT PRODUCE THE DISEASE,
l. That in certain peculiar atmos-
pherlc conditions, the result of bad
drainage, dampness, etc, the air con-
tains the sporules of a parasitic
fungus.
2. That, by the inhalation of this
poisoned atmosphere, sufficient
quantity of the sporules are lodged
upon the mucous surface of the
throat to form the nucleus of the dis
ease.
3. That the system being thus in
oculated, like the vaccination of the
cowpock, process OF fermentation is
set up in the blood which eliminates
in fever, and all the symptoms of
blood oisoning.
.Oertel, the German pathologist, re-
marks that "the discussion concerning
the nature of diphtheria assumed a
new phase when the discovery was
made by Heu:er and nyself that the
diphtheritic membrane, the subiacent
tissues, and even the blood, contained
great numbers of vegetable organ
isms, or BACTERIA" to which they gave
the name of micrococci. A series of
experiments We're instituted whereby
different animals were inoculated with
the dlphtherltic virus, which developed
all the local and general symptoms of
the disease. BY further experiments
these pathologists furnished the proof
"that diphtheria begins as local dis
ease and develops afterward into a
general one; and that, moreover, the
general infection is kept up by the To-
cal one. The disease establishes it.
self in one spot; the focus of infeo
ton, and thence distributes itself
throughout the body, until, by general
blood poisoning, it renders the organ
ism incapable of life"
These authorities are quoted to en-
phasize the necessity of local treat.
ment and to condemn the practice OF
complacen;ly treating this fearful dis.
ease con general principles. We
must bear in mind that we have a
treacherous and dangerous ma!ady to
deal with, and should neglect nc
measure which promises relief, even
though their application may not be
agreeable to the patient.
TREATMENT PRESCRIBED.
A solution of nitrate of silver Zone
drachm to the ounce) should be APP
piled with a sponge probang three
times the first "A hours and twice the
second. This application will gener.
ally cut short the disease in the be-
ginning, and always relieves the local
symptoms and the general fever.
am aware that the non-localists
will censure this treatment as cruel
and severe; but if rightfully applied
it is not very painful, and the relief
it affords is most marked and satisfac.
tory. This application not only de
stroys the fungus, but acts as a
healthy Alternative and astringent to
the diseased mucous membrane by CO.
agulating the albumen of the subja-
cent tissues and retarding emulation,
The next most important measure
in local treatment is irrigation OF the
throat every half hour with warm
water medicated with the solution OF
chloride of aluminium, in the proper
ton of two teaspoonfuls to the cup.
If the patient is old enough to gargle
effectively that will be sufficient, but
If not. the throat should be washed
out with the solution by means of a
Davidson syringe. The chloride OF
aluminium, by its antiseptic and as,
tringent action. seems to put new
face on diphtheritic surfaces within a
few hours. Its effects are surprising,
and as it is non-poisonous it may be
used very freely. Where the use OF
nitrate of silver is objected to this so.
luton could be applied in full
strength, either with probang or syr-
inge.