Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-12-12
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 grandmothers used,to call ''douncy,"
says physician i'll the Providence Tele-
gram. His head aches 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 feverish state
begins, which slowly increases, until
one morning there is a sore throat. Not
an ordinary one, that only hurts to
swallow something, but one that gives
pain on pressure, and aches even when
it is not touched. Look i'll that throat
now. Press down the tongue with a
tablespoon handle, so that, with strong
light, not only the tonsils, those senti-
nels on Gather side of the entrance to
the windplpe, can be seen, but the soft
palate and back of the throat. Showing
intensely red, a 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 10 navy beans, they present the
III Alsl4A1 lllAo lll1N dllIllI4tl4si ID Oll
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 maiig-
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 dIsinfectants laid i'll. No one
should enter the sick room upon an
empty stomach, nor remain there longer
than absolutely needful. Keep away
from the sick ones head, and il forced
to go near hold the breath until again
at distance. Stand in draft for some
minutes so that clothing may be well
aired, and il the disease be not con-
tTacted anyway he thankful.
Gradually these spots enlarge until
they grow together and the patches be-
come a sheet of membrane, extending
from where the tongue ends to any point
in tie bronchial tubes that can be seen,
which grows of a dirty ash color and be-
gins 10 clog respiration. Torn forcibly
off, lie bleeding surface beneath sets to
work and promptly replaces 1t. Fever
increases, food IS taken with the utmost
tAllluSl4O4l NOAutS Oll,
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 single victim. What is the
Cause of this disease? Probably it is
due to specific poison, as malignant dis
eases are known t. De; but il is essentially
the child of filth and can be traced III
every case to some such source. Three
of the most sudden deaths / ever saw
came from digging a well in a city yard
that opened into near privy vault.
y pile of carriage, refuse from the
table, lies unoticed near a window un-
IL it decays and sends death in every
direction. y sewer trap refuses 10 work
in the cellar and every one 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 putrefying carcass
until 1t finds cOngenlal soil, where it
straightaway alightS and sets TO work.
Any one 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
Il 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
Scourge? Much. 1t is the duty of every
one 10 preserve the house in which he
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
come, by nourishing food, long hours of
sleep and careful avoidance of eyery
habit that weakens. said a man to me
to-day: doctor, do you think this
eruption on my skin comes from drink?';
Yes" L answered, ''liquor would
certainly cause it, and if you expect TO
get well you must absolutely abandon
drink i'll every FORM '.Well, doctor. i
will try, but God knows it will be a
hard job" That is one thing that
makes people liable TO diphtheria-the
poor blood and weak nerves that come
from dIink. 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
every precaution that experience teaches
just the ones 1 have been giving vou
here for example-and usually get clear |
of contagion. So may you every one !
or at all events place yourself on a level |
with doctors in this respect-if you will |
,ollow this earnest advice.
Should a sore throat come, should |
even spots appear upon it, do not be |
alarmed. Remember that true diphthe- /
ia never commences thus; that there is !
l considerable time of sickness before
.hese spots come in the throat at all.
and that the chances are so to that |
he case is one of quinsy or catarrhal |
throat. For the latter a good gargle is |
made Of
Common salt, one tablespoonful.
Cidar vinegar, one-half teacupful.
To be used hot.
Bind red flannel strip around the
neck and keep it there until all soreness
gone.