Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-21
NO NEED OF ALARM.
Local Physicians Declare There Is
No Occasion for SOlicitude.
BECAUSE DIPHTHERIA is HERE.
1t Isn't Epidemic, and the Best Judges Are
Certain It Won't Be.
SOME THINGS THAT CAUSE THE DISEASE

The fact that 16 new cases of diphtheria
were reported to the Bureau of Health Sat
urday created an unusual disturbance
among the physicians of the city yesterday.
The cause in nearly every case has proven
to be bad drainage, or surface filth.
"Diphtheria," said prominent doctor,
''is worse than smallpox or yellow fever in
this climate. The former is not fatal,
though loathsome disease, and the frost
ditions which puzzle us all. 1t may spread
and become general, though at present there
are no indications that it will"
Inquiry at the Bureau of Health elected
the fact that more than usual interest was
aroused in the matter and that the necessary
precautions were being taken.
''What is the most usual cause of diph-
theria?" asked DISPATCH reporter.
"Filth, bad drainage and the presence of
decomposing matter"
NO NEED OF ANY PANIC.
DR.. Fleming, of 501 Penn avenue, who is
very much opposed to advertising or to ap-
pearing immodest or unprofessional, was re-
luctant to talk on the subject. ''It is bad
policy" said he, ''to report this matter,
as it only creates a panic among the
parents of children of school age. As a
matter of fact have had no cases of diph-
liberia, and know of none, except as reported
through the Bureau of Health. Undoubt-
edly the disease has made its appearance in
the city, but without examining the records
and seeing where these cases are located 1
could not give an opinion as to its cause.
Diphtheria, of course, is epidemic, and the
school authorities are wise in not accepting
pupils who have come in contact with
it, but there is no need of alarm.
1t is wrong to report these few cases in
the public prints at this time, because it un-
duly alarms people and has a depressing
effect on business The Board of Trade, p"
continued the doctor, 'should take some
steps to prevent the impression that diphthe-
ria is spreading from being published. If L
had those reports, and could see just where
each can be located, it would be possible TO
determine the cause in many of them, but |
have not, and no physician in this city has. "
SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE.
"What are the symptoms of diphtheria?"
ga fever-usually the child breaks out in
a fever, which is often mistaken for an
other disease. Then the throat becomes
affected, the mucous membrane of the air
passages closes up, and it becomes battle
for life When this strange matter forms
on the pharnyx. it is evidence of Group.
The two diseases should not be con-
founded, however. Diphtheritic Group
is common when that disease is
prevalent, but it can easily be
distinguished from either the ordinary
Group or diphtheria. Well, hardly know
what to say as to preventives; that all de-
pends upon the case Cleanliness, however,
is requisite"
He thinks the Board of Trade should look
after the matter, especially now that the
Exposition is in progress.
Diphtheria, the doctors say, is the term
applied to an acute infectious disease, which
is accompanied by membranous exudation
on surface, generally on the
tonsils and back of the throat,
or pharynx. Although popuIarly
believed to be a newly discovered disease,
there are distinct evidences that diphtheria
was known to ancient physicians as ma
lady of great virulence Under the name
NAHUM Egyptiacum, Arteus, in the
second century, gives a minute description
of disease, which, in all its essential char
acteristics corresponds to diphtheria.
EPIDEMIC IN OTHER CENTURIES.
In the sixteen, seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries epidemics of diphtheria appear to
have frequently prevailed in many parts of
Europe, particularly in Holland, Spain,
Italy and France, as well as Eng
land, and were described by physlci-
ans belonging to those countries
under various titles; but it is probable that
other diseases of similar nature were in
cluded in their descriptions, and no accurate
account of this affection had been published
until 1921. By some physicians it is re-
garded as primarily q blood poison, the
manifestations being local and not essen
tial, while others hold that diphtheria is at
first local disease, the constitution becom-
ing secondarily affected or poisoned from
affection. This latter view receives sup
port both from an inoculation of the dis
ease in animals, and from the discovery in
the diphtheritic membranes and surround
ing tissues, as well as in the blood and
other fluids of persons suffering from diph-
liberia, of the lower forms of vegetable
organisms, which are supposed to be the
injecting agents, both in the local affection
and the constitutional effects.