The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-21
DIPHTHERIA
BY s. R. Mallory Kennedy. M. D.

Volumes have been written about
diphtheria and I wish 1t distinctly un-
derstood at the outset that shall not
fendeavor in an article of this kind to
cover the ground thoroughly, but shall
write only a synorosis, bringing out
the facts which think the public viii
Do most interested in. and, as I be-
1--we the public Is more interested in
Knowing how to prevent infection and
disease, shall lay more stress on this
phase OF the subject.
] Diphtherta was epidemic throughout
the middle aeyes and probably before.
though It was not called diptheria be-
fore 1926 We find it at all times Of
the year In large centers of population,
though It was not called diphtheria be-
are by no means immune. 1t Is most
prevalent in the autumn and winter
x9Onths and appears to exhibit q Sc
verer form at that time.
Il Ia an extremely infectious and
very contagious disease. easily com
naundcated from person TO person and
the germ, rod shaped bacillus g,
microscopic IN size, has the ability
under certain conditions to live for
many days. It can be found on the
Acthing. the bedding, the hair, of the
pmftenfs and attendants. The germ
1As lived On silk thread for 172 days,
On cf1ifdsB toy for four or five months,
md IN the human throat for a period
~ $50 days. It grows easily In milk.
and eptdemfcg have been traced to
the milk Supply.
Contrary I'd the geneal belief the
d1sease known as diphtheria of calves,
dogs. cats. ETC.. Il not communicable
to the human.
The largest majority of the cases oc-
eur between the second and fifteenth
Years of life though the adult is by
r. means exempt and many cases are
ported among nurses and physicians.
Enave personally known OF one case in
q woman ~ years OF age.
It may seem strange to know that
the germ is often formed in the throats
Of perfectly healthy individuals who
ara pursuing the even tenor of their
ways. bot such is the case Here, as
in every germ infection, 1t Is q ques-
tion OF seed and SOIL If the system is
In run down condition and our white
Blood corpuscles-the fighters of the
body-our army Of defense-are weak
then almost any germ, which we lken
20 an army OF invasion. will find little
dffhculty I'm storming the citadel and
gaining entrance to our city and Ill
timately an easy victory. But, on
the other hand, IL we are perfectly
healthy, II our army OF defense is in
A NO. / condition, the invading host
OF germs finds that our power OF re-
sistsnce ts too great and no infection
occurs, or II 1t does, the resulting ill
ness Ia a mild one
Period of DEVELOPMENT
Now few words as to the disease
ifseif. The period Of incubation, that
r. the time It takes the disease to de-
\ elop, after enc has been subjected to
Infection, is from two to seven days,
usually two.
In mild cases the onset is not Sc.
we're The person attacked may have
chilly sensations, slight fever and
few aches (patnS in the legs and back
the temperature rising from 100 to
108-104 In some cases. In very young
children there may be commissions
The muclIs membrane of the throat is
at FIRST REDEEMED. then gradually a
gray4sh white membrane appears, US
uaIly upon ones tonsil. spreading by
the third day over the other tonsil and
back OF the throat. The tonsils be-
como swollen and the membrane then
changes from dirty gray to yellow
1sh color. The glands of the neck be-
come enlarged and are tender to the
touch. The pulse ranges from 100 to
40. II the case remains mild the
throat symptoms do not cause the pa
tient Inconvenience. As a rule the
general condition OF the sufferer bears
o Direct relation to the throat disturb
ance- This is C picture OF mild at
tHca.,
have said nothing OF the severe
forms and the many complications of
which paralysis is the most important.
which occnr In as many as twenty per
can't OF the cases. rendering the pa
tent helpless, and causing in many
instances the loss of valuable citizen |
70 the state.
It is not my Intention I'm this article |
TO describe an the complications met
with. but TO give simple picture of
the mid and often unrecognized type, |
SO that he who runs may read
II after reading the above you are |
interested to learn more. /
consult your family physician, who is |
well up on an these conditions, and he /
VIII gladly give you the information |
you seek.
Prevention and Cure.
And now as to prevention and cure. |
There was time when the physicians /
duty ceased when he had administered |