The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-21

to the Patient-ApplcabIe In All |
Stages Of the Disease.
DR.. l. L. Ten Brock of Minneapolis !
in the Medical Record gives an ac- |
count of q new method of treating
diphtheria. He relates his experiences
in impianting in the Threats Of patients
suffering from it a fungus which mul-
uplies rapidly and destroys the germs
responsible for the disease.
The fungus is said to be harmless
and to do its work rapidly. 1t is cali
! ed the achlya muscaris and is describ-
ed as a thallophytic fungus. The
/ qualifying adjective is. derived from
two Greek words, thallos, green
twig, and phyton. plant.
"Achlya muscaris,' says DR. Ten
Brock, possesses the power of de-
stroying bacilli diptheriae in culture
I and in the throat.
Throat NEGOTIATIONS of this fungus
are usually self limited and may re-
quire some adjustment in the way of
repeated NEGOTIATIONS or incubation in
special areas or under special condi-
nose.
1t has the power Of inhibiting the
growth of number of throat patho-
gems tvirusus. micro organisms or ot.l-
er substances causing disease) and
seems TO Influence fayorably mem
branous anginas (sore throat from any
cause) of various origin
Its clinical use seems 10 be attend
ed with no danger.
Applicable In Ali STAGES
at is applicable in all stages of the
disease and seems to give speediest re-
suits in the earliest cases.
When the fungus is sown on normal
Threats, after few hours patients
complain of scratchy feeling Later
as II develops. it can be seen "resem-
bling membrane. as boar frost re.
sembles 4 snow fall
If this fungus possess strong bac.
tericidal properties says DR.. Ten
Brock, 'lt ought TO prove itself cura
tive unaided by other means. Antiti
pating the clinical tables. il may BIZ
said that the fungus seems to remove
membranous anginas OF various origin
Given n case of membranous angina
not seriously sick enough to demand
immediate antitoxin. it is apparent
that the fungus can be inoculated ant
be doing Its work many hours befor,
the diagnosis has become established
When there was ut the same time
clinical Improvement that one by prac
tlce can detect. We felt justified In thu
face OF n favorable outlook to let tn,
case progress without other treatment
Here are some of the physician
comments on cases treated:
"A.-Twenty-tive cases of simple fol
licular tonsilitis Here a reaction oc
ours similar to or more marked thai
in normal threats. There is 4 rapi,
disappearance of the membrane with
out any loosening OF the same in mass
clinical characteristic that aids il
distinguishing the nondiptheritic exu
date
The treatment was adopted in Sus
picious tkroats and in others To ties
out the effect OF the fungus under path
illogical conditions.
Case I'm. w. clinical diagnosis: Fo
licular tonsiiitis meteorological examins
ton not made No Improvement aftt
forty-three hours local treatment. Ant
septics removed by copious gargliHg an
q throat HoCuialcd IN evening" throat clea
S. In morning. In the extreme types
diphtheritic cases one occasionally notice
= a persistinG, easily detachable exudatio
and Shiny condition of the throat. Tn
rapidly clears up under antiseptic trea
n ment.
he "B.-Seven cases with mild dipl
a theritic tonsilitis. Five of these case
IS have been treated without antitoxil
," their progress having been sufficient
" satisfactory without to warrant lettin
them alone
ar The procedure is not ut this tim
+ recommended, but was adopted to den
. onstrate the efficient bactericidal pro-
critics of this fungus when unaided /
:, other means"
sic ----------