The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-01-10
Diphtheria.

UQpQCQeI1A.
Since diphtheria is q disease of
such common occurrence and Is es-
pecially prevalent in winter months,
it might he we'll at this time to offer
few words of instruction and ad-
vice, and so possibly aid in checking
this disease in this community. Diph-
terra is both a contagious and infec-
tious disease; when we say disease
is contagious, we mean that one per-
son may get it from another by d.
rect contact, and when we say it is
infectious we mean it may be trans
mitted by an intermediary, such as
another person who is not actually
suffering from the disease, but har-
bors the germs in the nose, throat,
or in some other part of the body, or
through the agency Of clothes, car
pets, furnishings, toys, domestic ami
mails, cups, bottles, ETC., or of milk.
It was not until 1888 that the
germ causing diphtheria was found
by q scientist, Klebs, who was able
to prove that every case of diph-|
terra was due to specific bacillus,
called the Bacillus Diphtheria. From
this time much has been learned of
this microorganism,b but, from prac-
teal point of view the most inter-
membered is that there are many peo-
pie who have diphtheria germs In
| their Threats, and it Is by contact
with them, directly or indirectly,
that the disease is spread and cpl
denies arise in towns or schools. The
lesson to be learned from this fact
is that no suspected case should be
neglected, and since the germs are
found in the clothes, furnishings,
etc., of a room, in which a case has
occurred, the necessity of careful dis
infection and fumigation and the de-
struction of all articles that cannot
be rendered safe in this way becomes
evident.
Males and females are equally
liable to contract the disease, but
children, under ten years, are most
susceptible. Any child suffering
from chronic enlargement of the ton
sils or from adenoids is particularly
open to infection as this is favor
able site for the Judgment and growth
of the germs. So that little care OF
the noses and Threats of these chill
dren, with the removal of adenolds
and diseased tonsils, will go a long
way toward removing the chance for
the child to catch diphtheria. Diph-
iberia also attacks the larnyx, and
these cases at times the most severe,
taking the biggest toll of life. The
disease may start in the larnyx, or
may in the worst cases or in those
that have been neglected spread
downward from the throat. 1nfec-
ton may likewise extend even to the
lungs and cause pneumonia, and
fully three-quarters of the deaths
from diphtheria In young children
may be traced to this cause.
The symptoms of diphtheria come
on at times slowly, but more often
with considerable rapidly. There Is
usually some soreness OF the throat,
fever, rapid pulse, pallor and the
child feels sick and Frustrated. The
examination Of the throat Is OF pr1-
mary importance; dirty, gray-white
patches are seen on the tons1ls or
spreading over the soft palate. In
the cases that involve the larnyx or
vocal chords, the onset Is usually
more abrupt, and there Is marked
hoarseness of the voice with noisy,
difficult breathing, fever and great
weakness. All cases of sore throat
showing patches, the so-called mem
brane formation are to be suspected
of being diphtheria until they can
be proven otherwise, and there Is
but one absolute way Of determining
this, that is by examining for the
diphtheria bacillus from cultures
taken from the throat, . procedure
any doctor may perform but which
requires eight or ten hours.
In the meantime, II there be any
real grounds for suspectfng the case
to be diphtheria, treatment should
not be delayed this long. It Is well
to emphasize here that early treat
ment is of first importance, probably
more so in this disease than in any
other. There is nothing known to
medical science that is SO absolutely
curative as diphtheria anti-toxin. Its
action is specific, and it can save
life in nearly every case, when given
oor1xy and In sufficient amOunts We