Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-11-15
UNNECESSARY ALARM PREVAILS
DIR. ADAMS SAYS THE DIPHTHERIA
SCARE is MUCH EXAGGERATED.
Hasn't Seen n Case, and Only Two
Cases Of Membraneous croup-Not n
single Good Reason For All This
Excitement.

A Gazette reporter found DR.. W.
A. Adams in his office last night and
like everybody else. fell to talking OF
the prevailing excitement regarding
diphtheria.
The doctor is not one OF those who
wish 10 cause any one unnecessary
alarm, especially when there is no
cause for It. He does not wish to see
our educational and business inter-
ests injured for nothing. and after
little demurrer entered. replied to the
following questions:
Doctor, as there is so much uneasl-
ness among the public regarding the
existence Of diphtherla In Fort Worth.
1 think It is the duty OF the Gazette
to enllghten the public in regard to
the scare that is now among the peo-
pie. Win you give us the true nature
OF the trouble as existing here?"
Il have no objection % giving you
my opinion, as / believe It Is within
the code OF ethics OF reputable physi-
clans to inform the public with regard
to any condition that would Jeopardize
the commerce OF our city. or endan-
ger the lives OF the citizens"
rs there diphtheria In For. WORTH"
Il am not prepared to affirm or deny
the existence OF diphtheria here, from
the fact have not been so unfortunate
as to see a case. ! understand that
there have been cases pronounced
diphthoria by some OF our most reput-
able medical men, and bear in mind
just here that ! have no disposition to
doubt their judgment In the premises.
1 have treated within the last month
many cases OF follicular tonsllltis; In
deed, this trouble has been endemic In
Fort Worth for that length OF time.
This trouble IL not considered coutag-
iOus, and Il not confined TO any special
locality. age or sex. and usually yields
promptly In few days to treatment.
VIII add that II has been more prevail
ent with children than adults, and has
caused much alarm with my patients
as dlphtherla has been said 10 be IN
existence here"
Would you object to telling US what
diphthcria is3'
ut IL n disease acute In it's nature,
highly infectious and Contagious. m
variably occurring in epidemic form
characterized by formation of false
membrane on some portion Of the mu-
cous surface. II usually attacks the
phdrynN. coft palate, tonsils. and not
infrequantly the nasal passages, ana IN
fatal cases. the larynN. ! believe the
bacteriOlogists have positively individ-
unllzed the micro-orglnism which pro-
duces this disease. II is known as the
Klebs-Locfiler bacillus, II Is said that
thede micrO-crgaiiisms invade not only
the mucous membranes mentioned. but
any musous membrane IL subject -
their invasion. as well as wounds and
abrnsions."
"'Then Ne are to understand that you
do not know OF any epidemic now eN-
istlug caused bv this specific poisony"
I'm tho cases that I nave Observed |
do not believe that tlI---e-~nfos'5-0rT, 500
lsms were present but 1 am not pre-
pared 10 prove this assertion by Tho
testimony OF the microscope. from .hc
fact that have not met with the false
membrane which occurs In diphthcria."
Have you seen amy membraneous
oroup2"
81 have seen two cases-onc brought
In from the country. the other occur
ring In the city. Idiopaihic membrane
Gus Group occurs more frequently In
the country than In cities. II
contagious and never In epidemic form
a striking popularity OF this disease
81 that the membrane primarily In
v9dcs the laryuX. instead Of the upper
Part Of the throat, while in diphtherin
IL lrVades the pharynN ana extends In
fatal caees to the wlndpipe. Hence you
VIII see my convictions are quite strong
as 10 the duality OF tho two diseases.
However, many sngacious physicians
believe they IRE one nnd the same dis
ease. My convictions are strengthened
from the fact that have seen cases,
not only IN the city. hut in the ~nuntry
also. IN large families OF cmldren.
wher" one was ott1ckcd and the others
escaped entirely.
Doctor. What do you think Of the
present state of excitement in Fort
Worth IN regard to liphtheiin?"
81 think that the alarm Is entirely
unnecessary and very hurtful 10 the
commerce ana educational interests OF
our city. You are aware that there Ia
quite u large boarding population here,
notably Mt the Polytechnic, Fort Worth
University and 81 ltynltius Academy.
Yon can well imagine the anguish and
serious approximations OF mother llV-
ing In distant village when she Is In.
formed Of the pret alence of dlpnthoila
among us. Also OF the country msr-
choni wher he Is leaving for Fort
Worth to buy a bill OF goods nd his
wife catches him by the COASTAL and
implores him not to 20. Hence | am
conscientious In my belief that the sit
uation does not warrant the alarm that
eNl1is among the laity."
Has an epidemic or diphtherla eyer
occurred IN this sectione"
81 do not call to mind that thers
ever existed In this section or In Texns
what might be termed an epidemic az
diphihcria. II IL e notable fact TINT
TeNas has been exempt from all charar-
ter OF serious epidemics. Ia grippe ex.
cepied. THIS probably can be account.
cd Tor hN the fact TINT tyN h,v. g,,ch