The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-01-11

Think About.
"Where doctors disagree who shall
declde2" is an old query which is for
cibly brought to mind by the difference
of opinion existing among physiciana
as to whether diphtheria is contagious,
infectious, or otherwise.
There are numerous instances that
may be cited in support of every theory
on the subject. The fact that all who
come in contact with it do not take the
disease, cannot be counted as conclu-
sive evidence that 1t is not contagious,
for the same is true OF every disease
that is recognized as contagious.
Some persons may pass through the
cholera. smallpox and other conta
gious diseases as nurses and not take
the disease. In large families where
contagious diseases may prevail one or
more members of the family may es
cape. The same parties, at another
II ! time, may take tbs-disssse' sss:s.'sI
:, .@ast poss.oie exposure to 1t. I a,;dd,o
: Instances of this character ,e ear
numerous and SO well known thaed i,
strange that any person should cite t.
isolated instance of this character III
support of the theory that diphtheria is
not contagious. Upon that kind of
evidence it may readily be shown TT
no disease is contagious.
GAS to the origin of the disease"
said physician, "oplnions differ wide
ly. There is one point connected with
! this feature of the case that has not
been mentioned, and it may be of in
terest just now. Diphtheria, so far as
the public knows of the disease, made
its appearance simultaneously with the
introduction of petroleum oil for illumi
mating purposes. When the petroleum
lamps superseded camphene and other
burning fluids, diphthelia made its ap-
pearance, first showing itself in the sec
ton of country nearest the oil wells,
where it was first generally used tor
Eliminating purposes.
At that time, In the absence of
knowledge on the subject, physicians
and the public in general attributed the
disease to the burning of this oil in
lamps. No special reason was assigned
for this other than the fact that the two
things appeared upon the stage to-
gether. This was at the time when oil
was obtained in Northwestern Ohio
and diphtheria first attracted attention
in that part of the State. 1t was then
entirely different, apparently, from the
present form of disease. 1t prevailed
more among grown persons and was
much more fatal in form. The fact that
it was about as prevalent among grown
persons then as 1t is now among child
rem was accounted for on the fact that
grown persons used the oil lamps for
reading and for work during the even
ing while the small children were play
ing or sleeping.
alt was there claimed that petroleum.
when thus used for Illuminating pur
poses, has a peculiar effect upon the
atmosphere near it-that it, more than
any other burning material, absorbs the
moisture of the atmosphere, drying the
eyes and the throat. 1t is claimed that
persons reading by an oil lamp and sit
ting near it to get the light will soon
commence rubbing the eyes to pro-
duce moisture. In the absence of any
other theory on the subject it was
claimed that this condition of the at
mosphere. coupled, perhaps with par
ticles escaping from the burning oil,
produced diphtheria. This was perhaps
a natural CONCLUSION under the circum-
stances.
"But this theory as to the origin Of
the disease has apparently been aban-
doned. Probably only the older class
of citizens may know that such theory
ever had an existence. The use of oil
for illuminating purposes became uni
versal and the disease has spread every
where. The relation OF the two, if it
ever existed, has Eeen lost sight of. 1t
may be we'll to call attention to it, since
there appears to be no well-defned
cause for diphtheria, and the people are
at loss to know just where or how to
combat it.
Treating this petroleum theory as
possibly correct, may be prevalence of