The leader., 1905-04-01

Home Health
Club
ny DAVID n REEDER. ph. D. M.n.
La Porte Ind.

E..


DIPHTHERIA.
Itseems to be generally construed that
my attitude toward all kinds Of medica-
tion is hostile, and that advocate its
utter exclusion in any and all cases, re-
gardless Of statistical knowledge,
which proves beyond contradiction the
absolute cure which 1t effects In various
diseases. Such, however. is erroneous.
The progress made in medicine and
surgery even within the last few years,
is something marvellous. and "the pro-
fession" is ever performing cures which
seem but little short of miracles. The
ssMgeon has reached what seems to be
/ the ultimathule of possibilities in his
profession; he performs that which not
only have made past generations stand
In open -mouthed wonderment, but which
even to-day seems unreasonable and be-
yond the conception of all but himself.
The successes which the physician aud
surgeon Of to-day are achieving every
where are truly wonderfully
1t does not follow that be-. ply
sician does not cure every cas- ch he
is called upon to treat that med and
the profession are all a humbeis5 The
physician and surgeon are but human,
and are therefore supposed to err, as all
mortals are liable to do. THERE'S not a
day passes but that we leave something
undone, or do something which we
should not have done, or, if we do it at
all. do it incorrectly. Then, too, If the
doctor could effect any and every cure
which he is called upon to attempt, the
only safeguard against mortality neces-
sary would be to Keep physician al
ways at hand.
My aim has been to teach the laity the
simple forms of cure which have for
years been employed in various diseases.
There is no possible question but that
the public must be benefited by these
homely lessons. if they choose to be.
But there are many, many forms of
disease whose treatment should never
be intrusted to any but a skillful ply
sician; if one is available. In the dis
ease now to be considered, it is especial
ly urged that physician be called as
soon as evidence of its presence is
discovered If one is not to be had, then
employ the following:
If diphtheria is taken in hand as soon
as it first appears, it is not very hard to
overcome, but if it has progressed until
the windpipe is nearly closed, then it is
indeed a serious matter The disease,
ga Z aaI %I1ics yfo &c
not incurable. however.
One of the particular features in diph-
liberia is a growth of peculiar substance
in the top of and extending down the
trachea or windpipe. This growth is at
once so rapid and persistent as to eff
fectually close the aid passage to the
lungs, causing death from suffocation
if not arrested.
The other equally important feature
of the disease is nervous construction
of the muscles surrounding the wind
pipe. 1t frequently occurs that when
the growth itself does not entirely close
the air passage, this construction or
cramp completes the work.
The best authorities upon the subject
ascribe the fatality of this disease quite
equally to these two peculiarities above
mentioned. There are great many
physicians, however, who seem to lose
sight of the nervous affection, and treat
only the growth, regardless of the equal
ly fatal construction. In this method OF
treatment, it often occurs that the perv-
Gus affection is increased by the medica-
tion employed to overcome the growth,
thus actually causing death from the
one source while directing treatment to
the other. In treating diphtheria it is
necessary to keep these two features or
conditions, orthe tendency toward them,
equally in view, that in endeavoring TO
alleviate the one the other may not be
aggravated, thus doing more damage
than good To secure clearer and more
precise idea of the exact nature of these
two features, they will be considered
separately This disease is more COM
mon among infants and adolescents; in
fact. rarely does it attack adults; there
fore, in illustrating the subject, the case
will be referred to as though affecting a
child.
The tender membranes which line the
throat of the child are continually irri-
tated by the cold, damp air which it
breathes This is not all the mischief
the damp air is doing, either; it is
weakening the nervous system of the
whole body, thereby gradually produc-
ing feverish condition.
Iteis only natural to suppose that this
continued irritation is going to concen-
trate at that spot which affords the most
vulnerable point for such attack. This
is found in the delicate membranes of
the trachea. These have heretofore
been secreting just sufficient moisture to
keep the windpipe itself in good working
order: but now they allow peculiar sub
stance to emanate from within them
and collect on their surface This sub
stance does not evaporate, nor does it
pass off in exhalation, but adheres firm.
" to the surface of the membranes. The
size of the accumulation, or growth, In
creases very rapidly, until there is not
suficient passageWay left to permit the
ingress and egress of the air necessary
to sustain life. This is the growth which
appears, in diphtheria. at the top and
down the trachea.
The trachea is cartilaginol eanal,
composed Of membranes, and round
ed by muscles. whose action is q rolled
BY extremely sensitive nerves. Il these
muscles contract. the canal is just as
Cffectually closed as BY the growth. IN