Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-03-06
TO PREVENT AND CURE olPHTHseiA
DIR. G. G. II. Ki"ph-i of Chicago Tells 81
HIs Treatment.

A
on the lines of the germ theory oil dis
ease in which Pastenr AMI Koch seem
to have met with signal success. The
ESSAY derives unusual interest Mt the
present time from the fact that DIR.
Koch after completing his experiments
in the treatment of consumption de-
clares his intention of experimenting
in the same manner with diphtheria
and the germs that cause 1t.
DIR. Klophel in his essay reviews
sanitary precautions in ancient times
aud the ravages OF diphlheria in vari-
ons countries. He pronounces it an
acute. infections. parasitic disease.
Where thorough modern scientific
disinfection is carried out in connec~
lion with the treatment OF such dis
cases. he says. 1--WE find they are fast
Incoming a rarity" lie claims that it
is possible to contine the disease not
ONLY 10 one family. but TO one child
among several. The success OF this
lies mainly in the faithful application
of thorough antiseptic precautions.
Dr. Klophes idea j. that distinction
should be employed To destroy the
germs or their spores before they can
settle and develop in The system.
With this end in view he gives the
following outline of the treatment:
II will not consider the treatment
beyond that which | think the parents
or nurse may easily and legiimatrly
employ. First. strips ri linen or cot
ton fabric about eight inches wide,
folded Sc oral times and long enough
To reach from ear to ear should he
wruny out of ice-water if in winter.
aud II in summer put directly upon
ice. and then applied externally TO the
throat, and rs fast rs one cloth gets
warm another should he ready to take
It's place. If the child complains Of
being cold its feet and hands should
be bathed in ~ hot water as it can
stand. When the ehld is very young
il may be readily ascertained il it he
cold or not by feeling its hands aud
head.
Under no circumstances should hot
applications be made to the throat. If
the child is old enough it is given
broken ice to suck constantly; even IL
the water is spit out the cold applica-
tons inhibit the growth OF the
microbes. Instead OF using handker-
chiefs pieces of Oil linen or cotton
should be used They should only I've
of sufficient size TO wipe the mouth
once or blow the nose once. then
straig, .tway put into the fire and
burned. If wearing apparel. clothing
or bedding becomes soiled with the dis
charges from the patients nose or
throat they should. il valuable. be
boiled for ut least half an hour before
1. 4 -.
yalueless thew should be burned. The
patients hands should be washed fire.
quentlv. and here let me say. so should
those of the attendant. and the vessel
for the purpose should not be used by
any one else. The patients clothing
needs protection in front. This may
he done 10y pinning back of the neck
large piece of linen or cotton fabric
which will cover the whole front Of
the child and reach rs far rs the knees.
A material should be used which can
easily be boiled or burned when soied.
The child should be supplied with a
clean one every day. The little pa
tent. if old enough. will want to- spit,
and for q sDittoon small wooden box
with an inch of sawdust on the bottom
is capital. Fresh sawdust should be
supplied ut least once "a day-three
times a day would he better-and that
winch has been used should be emp
tied upon good hot tire. and thus
burned at the time the change is made.
If there are any flies about the box
should be kept covered. aud as mat
ter of course only uncovered when the
patient desires to spit; otherwise flies
lighting upon this spittle would carry
the germs of disease with them. and.
then alighting upon the familys food
aud drink. necessarily infect them,
and thus indirectly infect the whole
family. This is by no means chimer-
zeal. hut well-esiabIisheh fact.
Here let me say what il true of
them in connection with the dissent
nstion OF this disease is also true con-
corning their relations To the spread Of
some others, and chiefly tuberculosis
or cOnsumption-they Likewise carry
the germs of this disease from the
spittle; and. by the way, spttle of
consumptves should he treated tbs
same as that in iphtheria-burned.
If one of the children in AN infected
household should he Il baby (say few
months old) and free from the disease
its hands should be frequently washed,
for they are constantly putting their
fingers in their mouth. The sick child
should sleep by itself. and il there are
two windows in he room they should
be down at the top. or if there is but
one 1t should he down at the top aud
raised ut the bottom. The amount Of
opening will depend on the state ot
the weather"
The remaining directions are fox
cleaning the floors. walls and wood
work of the sick chamber during ana
after the disease. using corrosive sub
Innate for washing the floor, which
should either be covered w In oilcloth
or remain bare. DR.. Klophel con-
dennis so-called disinfection by burn
ing sulphur as being Intellectual in that
it does not destroy the germs of dis
ease.