Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-12
THE DREAD DIPHTHERiA.

the reports of the past week. Ten cases
have been recorded against an exactly
similar number for the week previous,
while four deaths have occurred. Health
Commissioner Eyster stated yesterday
that while there were a number of cases
in Rock Island and the disease as a very
severe type where it did exist, yet not
prevail to an alarming extent and that he
was using every precaution to check its
progress and he was anxious that every
body exercise the greatest OF diligence,
not only with their children in watching
them, but with their premises in keeping
them clean.
The paper read by DR.. J. P. Crawford.
of Davenport. On the subject of Ascend
ing and Descending Diphtheria" before the
recent meeting of the Iowa and Illinois
Medical society at Black Hawks tower, is
very interesting at this time. All forms
of dIphtheria and true Group, DR.. Craw-
ford claimed. were anatomically the same
disease. But the location of the pseudo
determines the character of the
complications and chemical history, vary
ing in different cases with local lesion in
volving the epithelia of the mucous mem.
brane in different portions of the respra,
tory passages. Ii the two uncertain
terms of diphtheritic Group and men,
branous Group were abolished and the
terms. descending laryngeal and ascend
ing laryngeal and ascending laryngeal
were used instead, there
would not be that confusion of terms sug~
gestive of the different diseases when the
same pathological condition is present in
both. In diphtheritic Group there is
primarily an area of deposit, extensive or
slight. about the pharYnx and extending
subsequently TO the larynx obstructing
the breathing space. In So called mem.
branous Group the foci of infection and
deposit primarily is in the laryDx, or in
many instances originating in the bron-
chial tubes or trachea and ascending to
the larnyx, resulting in still more hasty
stenosis. than in the descending type.
The doctor cited post mortem case
of child having died with the typical
symptoms of menbranous Group, the
pseudo membrane extending from the
bronchial tubes up the entire length of
the trachea and lsrynx. In this instance
as statistics show in fully one-third of
these cases, the deposit begins below
and extends to the larnyx. for it it origi-
mated in the larnyx. before the membrane
could extend down to the bronchia the
fatal stenosis would be produced at the
Iarnyx on account of it being the most
point. But in both the de.
'cending and ascending forms of diph-
iberia or socalled Group, the lsrnyx is the
lead line, being anatomicslly the most
dependent portion of the res pirstory pas
age. Dlphtberia is constitutional dis
,ase
DIR. Crawford then described the diph,
heritic process. The diphtheritic poison
" mOrhific agent is received into the
mouth or respiratory passages through
Infected air, food. water and direct con-
act with the infected objects. 1t gains
uccess to the tissues by selecting some
rea of mucous membrane, usually about
he tonsil. having preference for pave,
nent epitheliam. The doctor then ably
escribed the various stages of the dis
ase and the blood changes. The con,
titutiOnal disturbance is not dependent
pom the full development of the diph-
heritic membrane, for it often appears
efore the membrane is fully formed. but
ever manifested before there is red
ened infected mucous surface present TO
Omit of absorption of the dIphtheritic
'oison. This infected Redeemed surface
S liable to he overlooked and in many
instances is obscured from view, being in
be nasal passages or below the pharynx.
The question naturally arises if diphthe,
ia OF all types. including membra-
Ieous Group, are the same disease
why are the blood poi,
oning changes not uniformly pres.
mt in all the cases2 The doctor
answers this question by stating
hat in nasal diphtheria we have
Hood poisoning in all its virulence: in
onsiller diphtheria much less disturbance,
nd in membranous Group or ascending
arnygeal diphtteris there is scarcely any
ystematical arrangement. The nasal
mucous membrane, the submucous tbs,
ues are very highly supplied with lymph
tics and consequently blood poisoning
) very extensive, and most fatal cases of
Hood poisoning with heart failure, are
associated with nasal diphtheria.
The doctor claimed that there had been
md Is untold mischief resulting from the
rror of regarding membraneous Group as
lotsdI phtheria, therefore not contagious,
mo consequently ignoring all necessity
If isolation and other precautionary
measures. He further states that the
BOARD of health in not taking cognizance
If membranous Group as diphtheria and
applying the same quarantine regulations
,reatly enfeebles its effectiv enees in ours
ailing the spread of diphthera.
The treatment of diDhtheria was then
discussed by DR.. Crawford, and so far as
he has been able to find out from obsers
1ations and actual experience, his serves
he purposes better than any other. The
greatest degree of discretion should be
AIKEN in isolating the patient to the high
st chamber of the house, with little fur,
,iture in the room, and the premises
lusrantined to the extent of a placard.
All liberties beyond this Is menace to
he SAT ETY. of the community.
At the Theatre
A. r. Wilber's Burleigh combination