The Portland daily press., 1895-02-16
HOW DlPHTHERlA is SPREAD,
A Slight Sore Throat Infects Several
Families.


In a paper read before the Academy of
Medicine Dr.C. A. Ring gave some facts
within hisTown knowledge in illustration
of the way in which diphtheria is spread.
He said:
In illustration Of one of the many ways
in which the disease is carried, | can
cite recent case that came under my
observation. Last wednesday afternoon,
Ian. On, | was scalled to Pleasant Hill,
Falmouth, by DIR. Robinson, to see a case
of diph alberta with him and he gave me
this history. "A bout two weeks prevl-
GUS to that day lady came from Port-
land to make short visit. She had a
sore throat at the time, with a very fetid
breath, otherwise she was apparently
well. In a few days girl niEe years
old, was taken i'll with diphtheria. and
died in few days. Oh Wednesday,, Jauu-
airy I'd. In the meantime, the vlsluor
slept i'll a bed with daughter about IA
years Of age. On Sunday, January 9th.
This girl was takenlWith diphtheria, and
January 10th. Inasmuch as there was no
other method OF contracting the disease.
as far as the family physician could as
certain, the pro abi1ity is that the visit
or had tho disease in a mild form, and
already two deaths have resulted.
Since writing the above, L have this
day learned more about this carrier of
contagion. The lady referred to above
came to this city and visited house Oh
Chestnut street In two days boy came
down with diphtheria: then she went to
Falmouth and infected the two children
there, as / have stated. From the case
on Chestnut street, three others in the
same house have the disease, making
four cases SO far. After dealing the
o.. etl Pa inc 0re ncf
nut street and in Falmouth, the lady
went to Sebago, where she lives, and q
relative told NE this day that the husband
had the disease lightly and furthermore
that she now is taking care of another
child, with the diphheria, whom she has
infected.
Another mode of Infection is by CON
| taminated clothing, books, toys, etc.
| The bacilli become attached TO various
articles about sick room-to the car
| pets, wall paper, and various other
| things.
Tnwbolesome surroundings, houses
| contaminated with sewer gas, all favor
the propagation of the disease, and rem
ders the occupants, whose vitality is
lowered, susceptible to It.
The ignorance of people is factor in
snreadine diphtheria; Some people
think that, if they have no fear OF a con-
taaious disease they will never get it,
and I have seen several instances of sud
den conversion, with no chance of repen-
lance. Others are so obstinate as to not
| heed the advice OF physician in regard
to care in exposure ard In conveying
tbe disease to others. They are 10th tc
believe that little germ like the Klebs
Loffier bacillus can raise such dIstur-
bance with their internal anatomy. Tt
| he convinced. they want, fguratively
| speal,ing. to see something tangible
hut If anyone is skeptical about the
ability of the little bacillus diphtherit
to wage war with more than an evet
chance of victory, let MIN take the adj
vice of those who have suffered, and run
away from the disease.
In many cases of diphtheria an early
diagnosis is difficult, because we fire.
uuentlv have infammatory diseases O
the nharynx and tonsIls, with an eXu
date resembling that of diphtheria, and
in which the specifcsgerm is.snot found.
Various irritants, like steam, corrosive
sublimate, arsenic, ammonia when ap
plied to the fauces, produce false mem
prane. Sometims the exudate of folli
cular tons1litis resem oles that OF diphth
erja in an early stage. Again, the mem
brane of diphtheria may begin in thu
nasal massage and slowly develop, grad
| uIly enlarging the cervicai glands ant
poisoning the: system, either before w
see the case, or sometimes even whel
under our early care.
The only wayJto be sure. is to have {
m:oroscop1cal examination of the exu
date. and ii the Klebs-Loffier bacillus i
present that decides the matter. That i
easier done in city, where we have mel
skilled in the examination of morbi,
secretions than in the country, where
delay of several days might occur Inas
much as in 50 per cent OF the cases albu
men is found in the urine about tn
third day, an examination of that secre
tion might aid in the diagnosis.