The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-27
TO CURE DIpHrHErIA.
Theirs Is No Necessity for the Great Mum
Dor OF Deaths Caused by this Disease,

~ CUltE DlPHTllEItlA.
Theirs is No Necessity for the Great Mum.
Dor OF Deaths Caused by this Disease.
Chicago Times.
"There is no reason why a single child
life should be destroyed by diphthcria
Ii parents only watched tho health Of
their little ones and physicians knew
their business" said DR.. Liston II.
Montgomery, inspector oithc Chicago
health department, TO u reporter for
the Times. 81 Gm not afraid TO say"
continued the doctor, "that any
physician who Is familiar with the
latest discoveries in medical science can
cure any case Of diphtheria when the
patient is not already in q dying con-
dition."
This statement is directly opposite to
the popular idea OF the character OF tho
dread disease, which Is generally sup
posed to be necessarily fatal. The scene,
too often witnessed by sympathizing
neighborhoods, OF whole families OF lit.
tic ones stricken down in death by the
malignant pestilcncc. has emphasized
this opinion on tho part OF the public.
There should be no excuse said
Dr. Montgomery, "for the announce
ment SO often seen in tho newspapers
that diphthcria is epidemic in some
town, and that the schools have been
closed in consequence, and that SO many
deaths have resulted. Diphtheria can
be cured by ten-year.old child il it
know when TO apply the remedy.
"DiphtheriH is caused mainly BY pov .
orty and its concomitants, by unvcnti.
lated filthy lodgings, scanty clothing.
want OF sufficient nutritious food, and
sometimes hercdity and predisposing
physical conditions. The disease pre-.
walls most between the ages OF two and
ten years, although | have seen it in in.
iaEts and in persons OF middle age a
case will usually run its course in eight
TO zen days, but death may occur at any
time until the false membrane in the
throNt has been entirely cast out.
"The period OF incubation is generally
few days; possibly the diphtheria
poison may remain dormant in the sys-
TEN Tor several weeks, until called into
activity by iavoring circumstances. Its
invasion is generally occult and insid-
ious-slight fever, drowsinc3s, general
discomfort, little languor, loss OF appe-
tite, prostration, diarrahpa, chils,
pallor, tickling cough, husky voice, or
hoarscncss often usher in diphtheria.
These symptoms assist in forming 4
diagnosis when carefully studied in con-
junction with one another and with sur
rounding circumstances. The disease
may suddenly develop, without the
slightest warning, by an attack of diff
cult breathing. And on looking into
the throat We may find. 4 false mem
branc covering the tonsils and pharynx
and extending into the air passages SO
as dangerously 10 obstruct the passage
OF air into the lungs and excite spasms
OF difficult respiration. There is irc-
quently enlargement OF the glands Of
the neck, and the throat is considerably
swelled.
when parents notice any OF these
symptoms the proper thing to DO is to
summon physician at once. Neglect
or delay is almost always fatal. No
chances should be taken. What seems
to be only Il sore throat may be diph-
liberia in incubation. OF course there
are several remedies used by phy-
sicians, and most OF these would be dan
gcrous i'll the extreme il handled by a
layman. There is chloratc OF potash,
tincturc OF iron, bichloride OF mercury,
and other medicines which no one but
physician should deal with. But
there is a remedy which is well nigh a
specific for diphthcria at almost any
stage OF the disease and which. us I
said, can be administered with perfect
safety by 4 ten-year-old child.
This great remedy is sulphur. Ii
any parent should find his child mani
testing the symptoms OF diphtheria let
him get small quantity OF powdered
sulphur, known generally as flour OF
sulphur. \ little OF this can be placed
in 4 quill and blown by the father or
mother down into the child's throat.
This should be repeated ii necessary.
The sui phUr kills the poison germs OF
the disease and causes the false men,
branc to fall oil. The sulphur is perfect
ly harmless. and if the child should not
have diphthcria it will not hurt it.
Another way to administer the sui
phur remedy is to place u small guam
tity OF it in 4 saucer and set fire TO IT..
1t will not explode. Over the burning
sulphur place n common glass lamp
chimney. Cover this for q moment
until the chimney is filed with the sui
phurous acid gas generated by tho de-
composing sulphur, then hold the
chi!ds open mouth and nose over the
lamp-chimncy that it may inhale the
suiphurous gas. This is an almost in
fallible cure for diphtheria. OF course
the child must not be held too long
over the gas or It would sutiocate. Let
it inhale the gas moment and then
breathe the fresh air. Keep powdered
: sulphur in the house, watch the child
rcn's condition OF health, and you can
defy diphtheria.