The Penn's Grove record., 1888-12-08
Hoods S%arsaparnIa


DIPHTHERIA.
Symptoms and Causes of the Dreaded
Contagious Disease.
For q week or ten days before serious
illness declares itself to be diphtheria,
the patient has been languid and what
our grandmoihers used to call ~ed0uncy,''
says a physician in the Providence Tele-
gram. His head aches q little, chiefly
in The morning; his back and legs are so
tired that they ache, too, with OCCASION
al sharper pains going deep to the bone.
Appetite is gone and sleep uneasy.
About the fourth day a feverish state
begins, which slowly increases, until
one morning there is a sore throat. Not
all ordinary one, that only hurts to
swallow something, but n that gives
pain OIL pressure, and aches even when
it Is not touched. Look in that throat
now. Press down tie tongue with a
tablespoon handle, so that, with a strong
tight, not only the %tonsils, those senti-
nels ON Gather side of the entrance to
the windplpe, a be seen, but the soft
palate and back Of the throat. Showing
intensely red, q dark scarlet color in
deed, lies the inflamed mucus mem
brane, and scattered upon it, SO thick
here that they are patches, and there
clearly separated by fiery red. are gray
ish white spots. OF all sizes from wheat
grains to navy beans, they present the
certain signals that diphtheria is on
hand.
Now comes the danger to others.
There is no disease known more certain
ly rapidly contagious than this, with
the additional evil that from a light
case may be contracted the most malig-
nant type known, and utmost caution
should be observed. The sufferer must
be promptly isolated, notice sent by the
doctor to authorities and plentiful sup
ply of dlsinfectants laid in. No
should enter the sick room upon an
empty stomach, nor remain there longer
than absolutely needful. Keep away
frem the sick ones head, and il forced
to 20 near hold the breath until again
at a dRtance. Stand in a draft for some
minutes SO that clothing may be well
aired, and Ii the disease be not con
tracted anyway lie thankful.
Gradually these spots enlarge until
they grow together and the patches be-
come a sheetpf membrane, extending
from where the tongue ends to any point
in the bronchial tubes that a be seen.
which grows of a dirty ash color and be-
gins to clog respiration. Torn forcibly
of, he bleeding surface beneath sets to
work and promptly replaces 1T. Fever
increases, food is taken with the utmost
difficulty, exhaustion comes on, sapping
vital force with lightning speed, until
death comes to close the scene by suf-
location or sheer wear out and friends
may well be content If the destroyer
stops with q single victim. What is the
cause Of this disease? Probably it is
due to specific poison, as malignant dis
eases are known to be; but it is essentially
the child of filth and can be traced in
every case to some such source. Three
of the most sudden deaths / v e saw
came from digging a well in a city yard
that opened into a near privy vault.
A pile Of garbage, refuse from the
table, lies unoticed near a window I'M
til it decays and sends death in every
direction. A sewer trap refuses to work
in the cellar and every II sleeps in an
atmosphere polluted with sewer gas that
is more deadly because it is colorless
and cannot be smelled or the germ is
carried miles from a putrefying carcass
until it finds congenial soil, where it
straightaway alights and sets to work.
Amy n OF these causes seems compe-
tent to produce diphtheria, but it must
be remembered that no poison can kill
unless it finds a fit subject. So, out of
family one may be taken and the
other left-because one is strong and
can resist what the weaker succumbs to. |
/ What can be done to escape this
scourgeP Much. 1t is the duty Of every
one to preserve the house in which lie
lives in good repair, so that when storms
come it may not fall, The system should
be maintained in high condition during
these trying months of cold and wet to
cOmsSAyDsupehins food. long hours of
Sleep and careful avoidance Of every
habit that weakens. said a man to me
"Doctor, do you think this
eruption on my skin comes from drink"
Eyes" 1 answered, ''liquor would
certainly aus it, and II you expect to
get well you must absolutely abandon
drink in every form. "Well, doctor, l
will try, but God knows it will be a
hard job.n That is one thing that
makes people liable to diphtheria-the
poor blood and weak nerves that come
drink. Let it alone.
Finally, having done your part, keep
up brave heart and do not fear. People
say that doctors do not contract dis
ease, which is not strictly true, for they
have their share. But they exercise
,yery precaution that experience teaches
the ones I have been giving you
mere for example-and usually get clear
If contagion. So may you every one
,r at all events place yourself on a level
With doctors in this respect-if you will
jollow this earnest advice.
Should a sore throat come, should
wen spots appear upon it, do not be
Harmed. Remember that true diphtlle-
III never commences thus; that there is
considerable time of sickness before
spots come in the throat at all,
md that the chances are 80 to 1 that
lie case is n of quinsy or catarrhal
hroat. For the latter u good gargle is
made Of
Common salt, one tablespoonful.
Cidar vinegar, one-lialf teacupful.
To be used hot.
Bind a red flannel strip around the
eek and keep it there until all soreness
gone.