Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-11-25

to sleep with the afflicted one. They
have been known to nurse from the
same bottle; they have been known
to blow from the came whistle; yea,
! they have been known to kiss the
dead brother or sister; and not an
other case occurred in the family
This peculiar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
non-infectiousness has been noted by
many astute medical men in larger
cities.
| am pleased to quote from Prof.
william Osler, who fills the important
chair Of practice OF medicine in the
John S. Hopkins University. In his eX-
celent work published as late as 1892,
and by the way, recognized by all
medical schools on this and the other
contlncnt.he states that on occasions he
has observed this disease-membranous
croup-occur at infants homes where
the most favorable conditions for the
spread OF any Infection existed, and no
other case occurred and he still holds
that II Is a separate and Independent
aiiliction, but admits, as no one will
venture to deny, that the majority of
cases Of membranous laryngitis that
occur In his practice are diphtherltic.
II this non-contagious condition were
an exceptional one, It would not i'm
press US as being so striking. but there
Is no busy country practitioner who
does not see from one TO five cases each
year, and they with one accord say that
they have not seen contagion arise
therefrom. Hence we must believe
that the definition Of diphtherla-that
II is highly contagious. highly in
tectious, and highly luoculable disease
Is untrue or that there Is n separate
and distinct disease which IA non-con-
taEious non-lnfectious and nom
inoeulable. While admit that in New
York and In Chicago, whore epidemics
OF diphtheria have prevailed and are
prevalent that a majority of cases
subjected to the microscope will reveal
the klebs-Loetiler bacillus, and demon
strate beyond question the existence of
diphtherla, and 1t Is expected that the
bacillus Will be found but that does
not preclude the existence of a disease
peculiar to country districts. rs stated
by the authorities and Confirmed nv
the observations of country practi-
TONERS. Moreover I will affirm that
the board Of health Of New York city
have not asserted that these Diseases
are one and the same, and ir they had
asserted this. | am not aware thai this
Is the fountain head from which the
medical profession Of the tIni.nd States
draws It's authority. | refcr to inc
board of health OF New YORK am
pleased to refer to few letters re-
ceived from reputable mon on This
continent within the last few DAYS.
VIII refer first to DR.. r. o. NJ. parc
professor Of practice Of medicine in me
Polycllnie of New York not "A man who
upaches medical studelis, but n mar
Mho teaches the dnctor5 ,. America
aS follows: '''"''
New York, Nov, 1891, 81 West THIRTY.
third street.-Dear Doctor. 1 bal,ev,. Il,
me duality OF membranods Group ana
ulphtncrla, Both produce stranrulo
non " they Invade the laiynx. hui The
patnoloBy OF these two diseases Is an
sulutSiE dllterent. ! have 50 expressed
NY ~. SCI uLreservdely In my text books
on the practice OF medicine ana SIM,
thelr edition I am more conlrred f.,
my opinion that they are seonrnto arJ
distinct diseases. Ii is as nhs,,,1 -
state that child who has been cbo,,e1
W Ieath by rope around Its neck bas
u'tI or dlphtherin as II Is to state tbat
q q, cililu VINO liar died OF idiopathie
diphth arla. ueu OF
This emanates from ono OF tho ,,,a,.
eminent men OF the age and ot i,oss
aasree with him. The great Nicboias
Senn OF chicago, the brilliant medicai
N1Ht VI the west, believes that thett
Ire separate and distinct diseases mr.
duncan Eve of Tennessee, one Of no
asss,,, "Nu'."i authorities Of the south.
asstFts mat they are separate diseaaas'
we VIII not burden this article bv
pu9tlhg other letters l have seen from,
u uo5sn other reputable men. ali re-
eelVei within the last few DAYS ana an
a,v9wlng that they are by both patbaI
logical ana systemic evidence separate
a sil instinct disorders and this posi- |
non mas been strengthened and veri-
ned by mlcroscopical observation.
WI state Just here that do not con- |
s ,hl these men as having stultifled |
themselves. neither do I consider mar /
who share this opinion as guilty. az |
inns eharge l am satisfied that the |
weight OF modern authority is in favor |
OF me duality OF these diseased esna. /
eially since the microscope has ind,,.,s
pnalized The bacillus of diphtheria and
M nus , ietled TO ind these specific germs
OF certainty and we have hser c "ss
h iSess a, 70 acknowledge the results Of
VIII conclude by giving the strong