The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-01-08
DIPHTHERIA.
Continued from Page IL

membrane and its tendency to spread to
the structures outside of the throat.
When the diptheritic membrane is
only situated upon the tonsils the dis
ease lis not apt to be severe. The reason
of this is that the breathing is not much
interfered with, and as the absorbents
are not active in the tonsils, the poison
will not reach the blood in large guam
tity. If the false membrane spreads up
or down, however, the results are
serious.
Sometimes the false membrane will
extend downward, reaching the larynx,
or opening of the windpipe, and cover
over the vocal cords. This is q very
fatal accident, as suffocation is caused
by closure of the air passages by false
membranes. The croupy symptoms
come on gradually at first there is
slight huskiness of the voice and rather q
hoarse cough, but no interference with
breathing. Soon, however, the child
feels the want of air as the membrane
fills up the air-passage. Restlessness,
with worried look in the face, comes
on, and the cough has suppressed
sound. The voice gradually becomes
whispering and is finally lost. AS the
struggle for air becomes more intense
the soft parts of the chest suck in with
each inspiration, and the extremities be-
come blue. These patients almost al
ways die, unless surgical means of re-
lief to open the windpipe are employed,
and even then large proportion perish.
1t may take several days for diphtheria
Group to come to a fatal termination.
The symptoms are gradual, but slowly
and surely progressive.
Not infreouently the false membrane
spreads up along the pillars of the pal
ate covering the uvula and finally reach
ing up to the back of the nose. AS the
absorbents of the nose are very active,
when this organ is involved by the false
membrane the poison is quickly carried
to all parts of the system. This being q
. grave condition, it is well to recognize it
as soon as possible. It is very diffic lit to
look into the nose and see the false
membrane. but there are ways In which
we may recognize its presence. As
stated above, the false membrane usu-
ally invades the nose from behind
by creeping up the pillars of
the palate. When, therefore, we
see the false membrane SO ex-
tending and involving the upper
part OF the soft palate, it must of neces-
sity next involve the nose. The pres
ence Of another symptom at this time
will make certain our suspicion-name-
ly, the beginning of discharge of this
mucus from the nose, very often tinged
with blood. The discharge keeps in
creasing, and causes much irritation
around the nostrils and on the upper lip.
Crusts may here form, under which the
skin will be deeply excoriated. The
occurrence of nasal diphtheria is always
accompanied by an increased severity
of the general disease.
All cases of diphtheria should be I'M
der the care of a competent physician as
indeed every case of cold or infamma-
certain ample hygienic rules that can be
followed until one is procured. Chill
dren with diphtheria, no matter how
mild, should be put to bed and kept
there until manifestations of the disease
have ceased. Walking cases of mild
diphtheria not only infect others, but
are liable to dangerous symptoms, not
ably Group. The diphtheritic false mem
brane runs along inflamed surfaces, and
if the child, by being exposed to
draughts, contracts slight bronchitis,
the membrane will almost surely des.
cend and produce sutfocation. It is a
fact that Group is expressly liable to
complicate mild cases of diphtheria.
Kidney trouble or sudden heart failure
is more apt to affect children who are
out of bed
To relieve local Inflammation and
help the separation of false membrane
it is well to apply large, hot fax-seed
meal poultices to the neck. The false
membrane must be frequently dis.
infected by sprays containing carbolic
acid or other disinfectants. AS diph.
liberia is an exhausting disease, large
quantities of milk and beef tea may be
administered to keep up the strength.
1t is best to give no solid food.
The object of medicinal treatment is
to eliminate the poison as much as pos
sible from the body, and at the same
time counteract its effect on the system