The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-25
VIEWS OF PHYSICIANS
Leading Doctors Express Themselves
on the Prevalent Throat Lesion.
HEALTH OFFICER UPHELD
The Opinion Is General That Diph-
iberia Is In Town and Advice
Is Given That Well May
Be Needed.
HEALTH OFFICER UPHELD

Great Falls, Jan. 24.-Interest in the
controversy as to the nature OF the
disease now prevalent is still AT IeVer
heat and the public very generally sus-
tains DIR. Longeway, the health onicer'
in his rigid enforcement of quarantine
rules where patients are beneVed 10 oe
afflicted with diphtheria or throat trou-
Die of a doubtful character. In an IN
terview DIR. Ings reiterated his asser-
ton. published in the Standard Oh
"Wednesday. that he had not seen case
of diphtheria in Great Falls, but tna'
he had treated several cases of follicu-
lar ,cnsilitis which, TO casual opserV-
err resembles diphtheria, but tests,
which any ordinarily well-educateo
physician is able to apply, show Is en-
tirely different. Other well-known ana
highly respected physicians expressed
themselves as follows on the SUBJECT:
DR.. Gowan Ferguson-I have treated
no case of diphtheria this year ana no
suspicious throat disease. 40 no.
deny that there is diphtheria IN Great
Falls. / do not claim that there is.
Or ]. H. Fairfield have had pa
tients with diphtheria and have also
had cases of follicular tonsllitis. know
that other physicians have had cases
of diphtheria, and there is no DOUBT
that diphtherie has been and is now
prevalent in Great Falls and Sand Cou-
lee. Very seldom, If ever, does death
result from follicular tonsilitis or any
throat trouble except dfphtheria. Ihe
quarantine is the only proper thing
and must be enforced. 1t is far better
that one innocent man should suf-
fer than that an epidemic of diphtheria
spread through the city, as ii certain
ly will II the quarantine is permitted TO
relax or is violated. DIR. Longeway is
doing good work and should be sup
ported by every citizen. 1t is true that
the death rate here has been low, but
that is wholly due to antl-toxlne, winch
has been used.
DR.. j. A. Sweet have not been SO
unfortunate as to have attended any
cases of diphtheria this year. and
have had many cases, of tonsilitis both
"follicular" and otherwise, but do not
on this account, think there are nc
cases of true diphtheria in the city, as
/ fully believe most, If not all, of the
physicians are quite competent to dag
nosticate between the two diseases. The
danger lies not so much in not quar-
antining cases of the disease as moi
quarantining mild cases of the more
serious, as the most virulent form OF
diphtheria may be contracted from g
patient suffering. perhaps, very little
inconvenience from mild form OF the
disease. Serious cases ought never Il
be COMPOUNDED with tonsilitis. The
DnXSlcldnS seem 10 De alert anu all III
dications are that we shall not be In
nicted with an epidemic of any magni
tude. The disease has so far been of &
mild type and the death roll very low
and / can see no occasion for alarm II
the community. Still the man, physi
clan or laymen, who says there is NJ
diphtheria in town and that there II
no danger of contracting the disease II
proclaiming a dangerous doctrine anc
may, with all his equipment of micros
copic and culture mediums or the dag
nostic use of anti-toxine, be brought t
face the old-fashioned rule of diagno
sis, viz: IF The patient lives it is ton
solitis; and If he dies, diphtheria.'
would advise all persons to keep ava.
from patients suffering from throat lie
sions, and to uphold in every way on
efficient health officer in his effort Z
check the disease and prevent IL
spread. We are fortunate in having
man in that position who has sufficien
nerve to stand up to his duty in tn
face of such adverse criticism as ha
lately been leveled at him.
Dr. F. ]. Adams-I have attended
several cases of diphtheria during thu
past fall and winter, and in two cases
in the city have made a bacterilogica
examination, the only definite way o
determining whether or not the dis
ease is diphtheria. / found the diseas
to be diphtheria, but of a mild type
and If the people will support tn
health officer in his efforts to suppress
Ii there need be no fears of it's becom
ing epidemic.
DIR. Gelsthorpe said that he was no,
treating a typical case of diphtheri,
and had seen several such cases re
Gently at Sand Coulee, where they ha,
as many as 100 cases of follicular ton
silitis, easily distinguished by any in
telligent physician from true diph
iberia He was of the opinion that to.
many precautions could not be taken il
the matter of quarantining diphtheria
now prevailing in this section to linn
tied extent.
DR.. Roberts says that he has treate
recently and is now treating cases o
diphtheria, beyond any question. H
is in favor of most rigid quarantin
and urges the citizens TO faithful
support DR.. Loneway.
DR. A. A. Davis returned this morn
ing from Truly, where he went to at
tend two patients afflicted with throa
disease. Both cases were diphtheri
and one of the patients had diet
while the other was very low, but hope
were entertained of his recovery.
DR. ]. w. Frizzell believes that diph
liberia prevails and has reported fiv
cases of the disease to the health off
Ger.
DIR. c. X Videl of Belt and DR.. MOI
row of Sand Coulee have both reporte
numerous cases of diphtheria, and al
constantly assisting in the most rigi
enforcement of the quarantine.
LOCAL BREVITIES.