The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-03-08
Observation-Disclosures and
Conclusions.


have followed the literature of the sub.
ject are well aware Of this, but the gen.
eral public is not 80 enlightened. As |
the matter is one of the create 81 practi-
cal importance, a few facts may prove |
interesting as well as valuable. In a |
paper Of this kind it is impracticable to |
enter into dis cuseion of all the points
raised, and l shall simply state facts
and well proved theories, asking my
readers to accept them, not as orig NAL
(though confirmed by personal expert
ence), but as the latest conclusions of
high medical authority.
Until recently it was supposed that
diphtberia originated from variety
of causes-filib, bad drainage, damp
houses and especially the emanations
from sewers. Now, diphtheria is classed
as a specific disease, that is, disease
requiring for its causatiOn a particular
poison, supposed to exist in a micro
scopic animal or plant, which shall
refer to as The bacillus of diphtberia.
This being true, it is absurd 10 think
of q spontaneous origin of the disease,
and we must look for the cause of
given case in another, or in germs de-
rived from another cause, Let me state
the proposition distinctly--diphtheria is
81 ecific disease, and never originates
spontaneously. This statement could
be made in regard to smallpox, scarlet
fever or measles, without fear of con.
tradiction 1t is especially true of
diphtheria. The infere nee, then, is,
that bad drainage, untrapped sewers,
filth, etc, are not causes of diphtheria.
That they are unhealthy, and depress
vitality and impair resistan ce to disease,
grant, OF course; that they produce
diphtheria ia not true, Where, then,
does the disease come from? reply,
from a case of diph,heria.
Diphtheria is not always the terrible,
malignant thing which we associate
with The name. 1t may be very mild.
jacob says: "There is as much diph-
liberia out of bed as in bed nearly as
much out of doors as in DOORS" There
is as great variation in the severity as
there is in small pox. Varioloid s sim
ply mild variola of smallpox, the sub
ject of which may be travelling about,
on railroad or horse cars, sowing the
seeds of disease and death for 9th. RS,
though himself free from danger. Pre-
cisely the same thing occurs in diph-
iberia. The disease may be so mild
that the patient attends to his business,
or, if child, goes TO school. Free
from danger to himself, he is capable
| of bringing to those with whom he
comes in contact, severe illness or death
| What is considered an ordinary sore
throat or a non. contagious tonsililis,
may be diphtheria. If il be, the havoc
il may work is incalculable. DR.. jacob,
above quoted, further says that tonsiIi-
tis is dlphtheria.
The history OF most epidemics Of
diphtheria show that The occurrence OF
well-marked cases of the disease is
pre- ceded by milder throat affections.
When we meet with number of diph-
iheritic patients in one household, we
always find a difference in degree of
sevt riiy, from mild cases 10 malignant
diph,heria. The inference in such case
is inevitable, that all depend upon The
same cause. This cause is undoubtedly
the specific germ-lhe bacillus Of diph.
theria--and this and this alone can pro-
duce the disease. Why a person re-
ceiving this germ develops in one case
mild throat affection, and another
person malignant one, may be ex-
planned in several ways. The vitality
and reproductive power of The germs
NAV be low, the resistance TO poisonous
il 1uences on the part OF the individual
may be great or little, the local condi
lions of the mucous men brane may be
favorable or otherwise. All these ele
mems determine the severity of the
manifestations of the disease.
We have denied the spontaneous orr
gin of the bacillus of diphtheria, but il
may be questioned whether this bacillus
is always possessed of malignant prop
critics. Investigations by Drs. Wood
and Formal of Philadelphia show thai
this may not be the case. There exist
in the cavity of the mouth OF each OF
US, bacilIi in appearance, reaction &c
staining agents and in mode OF repro
duction identical with those OF diph
liberia. They i fer in vitality and in
the rspidity of their multiplication. Il
is not impossible that these innocuou;
bacilli may, under certain conditions
impure air, filth, depressed vitality Of
the individual, etc.,-acQuire greater
vigor and increased power of reproduc
ton, and 80 become malignant. Thi;
is not absolutely certain, but is prob
able, and would explain the APPARENT
spontaneous origin of some cases o
diphtheria.
The practical point of the whole mat
ter is this: While not negleCtiDg any
precautien which will cOnduce to make
our houses healthy, while being eve
vigilant to secure good ventilation
drainage, water supply and cleanliness
as being all of tht m necessary 10 gooC
health, let us look tor the cause of diph
iberia where it may be found, viz il
the ihrOats of individuals who have ih'
, disease, no matter in how mild de
gree. Be suspicious Of every sor'
throat; 1t may be diphiheritic. Isolate
such cases, if there be other children il
the family; don't send a child with sor'
throat to school, nor invite your neigh
boris children in to play with him
When your family physician advises
the isolation of mild throst affection
don't decline to take his advice and &C
cuse him of making more of the cast
than its importance deserves, but b'
thankful that he is waichiul Tor you
welfare aud show your appreciation by
a fait hfnl PxpQuii ion of his Or0e rs