Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-02-10
MERIoAN ELLSWORTH ME-. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 10 1909

the very membrane which is created in an
attempt at defense becomes the body's
own undoing by increasing the blocking
Of the air passages.
The difficulty Of breathing becomes
greater and greater, until the little victim
losses continually from side to side in one
constant, agonizing struggle for breath.
After time, however, the accumulation
OF carbon dioxide in the blood produces
its merciful narcotic effect, and the strug-
giles cease. The breathing becomes shall
lower and shallower, the lips become first
blue, then ashy pale, and the little torch
vi life goes out with flicker. This was
what we had to expect, in spite of our
utmost effort, in from seventy to ninety
per cent OF these laryngeal cases, before
the days OF the blessed antitoxin Now
we actually reverse these percentages, pre-
vent the vast majority of cases from de-
veloplng serious laryngeal symptoms at
all, and save from seventy to eighty per
cent Of those who do.
EFFECTS OF DISEASE.
This leads us to the most important
single fact about the course of the dis
ease, and that is that the chief source OF
danger is not SO much from direct suffoca-
ton as from general collapse and particu-
larly failure of the heart.
This has given US two other data of
great Importance and value, namely, that
while the immediate and greatest peril is
over when the membrane has become
loosened and the temperature begun to
subside, in both ordinary throat and in
lsryngeal forms Of the disease, the patient
is by no means out Of danger. While the
sntitoxins poured out by his body have
completely defeated the invading toxins
in the open field of the blood, yet almost
every tissue of the body is still saturated
with these latter and has often been seri-
ously damaged by them before their course
was checked. Many cases of diphtheria
will show weak and rapid pulse which
will persist for weeks after the patient has
apparently recovered, and il the little ones
are allowed to sit up too soon, or to in
dulge in any sudden movements or mus
cular strains, this weak and rapid pulse
will suddenly change into an attack Of
heart failure and, possibly, fatal collapse.
Last OF all, and by no means least inter-
esting, are the effects which are produced
upon the nervous system. One day while
the child is recovering, and is possibly be-
ginning to sit up in bed, a glass Of milk is
handed to him. The little one drinks it
eagerly and attempts 20 swallow, but sud-
denly it ehokes, half-strangles, and back
comes the milk, pouring out through the
nostrils. Paralysis of the soft palate has
occurred from poisoning of the nerves
controlling it, caused by direct penetra-
ton of the toxin. Sometimes the exter-
nal muscles Of the eye become paralyzed,
and the little eye can no longer see to
read.
Fortunately, most of these alarming re-
suits go only to cetain degree, and then
gradually fade away and disappear; but
this may take months or even longer. In
certain number, however, the nerves of
respiration or those controlling the heart
beat become affected, and the patient dies
suddenly from heart failure.
These effects OF the diphtheria toxin are
also of interest for somewhat unexpected
reason, since it has been claimed that they
are effects of the antitoxin by those who
are opposed to its use. Every one of them
was well recognized as possible result OF
diphtheria long before the antitoxin was
discovered, and every one OF them can be
readily produced by injections of diph-
iberia bacilli or their toxin into animals.
1t is quite possibly true that there are
more cases of poisoning and of
paralysis following diphtheria than there
were before the use Of antitoxin, but that
is for the simple and sufficient reason that
there are more children left alive to dis
play them! And between child with
temporary squint and dead child, few
mothers would hesitate long in their
choice.