The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-22

TONSILLITlS' AND DIPHTHERIA
The tonsils are normally larger
at birth but gradually decrease in
size during the first few years of a
|child's life until at the age Of puberty
they should be so small as to be
but barely seen when the throat is
examined.
Acute inflammation Of the tonsils
may occur at any time during life,
but is most common with young
children. An attack may follow ex-
posture to cold or wet weather, or
from direct infection Of the throat
by the common streptococcus bac-
terra. Such infection can only take
effect in the throat of a child who
has been enervated through bad
habits or whose tonsillar or throat
membrane is sufficiently inflamed,
as the result Of chronic or acute
hyperacidity Of the stomach.
An over-acid stomach, from wrong
eating, has a positive effect upon
any Of the other mucous membranes
Of the body such as those of the
nose and throat. The soil must be
there for the growth Of the invading
bacteria before any microorganism
can be said to produce either tonsil-
litis or diphtheria.
In many cases it seems that the
trouble starts entirely from the
crypts Of the tonslis becoming filled
with cheesy looking masses which
are formed from microcci and cpl
thelial debris. In this case the mu.
cous membrane is swollen and deep
red in color, with a white looking
emulation protruding here and there
from the tonsils.
The systemic SYMPTOMS first felt
are chills, aching pains in the back
and limbs, soreness Of the throat
difficulty in swallowing, and a feel
ing of temperature. The thermom.
eter will show a rapid rise in the
fever until it may reach 105 degrees
F. even on the evening of the first
day. Examination will show the
tonsils to be swollen, the tongue
furred, and the breath heavy and
foul. The urine is always highly
colored and filled with urates.
Symptoms of diphtheria are very
much the same as those of acute ton.
sillitis, but the appearance Of the
throat becomes very much different
after the second or third day. The
diphtheric throat develops greenisf
patches which may form on the soft
palate as we'll as on the tonsils.
| Parents are often afraid to cal
the doctor when the child develops
a sore throat because Of the fear OF
quarantine or that the doctor will
insist on using diphtheria antitoxir
to which many are ethically opposed
or which they consider an unwise
or dangerous treatment.
The sensible thing to do at the
beginning Of any throat inflamma-
ton with either children or adults
is to start using the proper hygienic
measures which are practically the
same in the case Of tonsillitis or
diphtheria, as neither Of these dis
orders are necessarily dangerous il
the right measures are used.
Acute Sore Threats
Most sore threats would not de.
velop into serious disorders if the
proper hygienic measures were
adopted at the onset Of the trouble
The first treatment which most
people use is probably the worst
thing they could do and that is t.
Immediately start gargling with
some antiseptic solution. This only
irritates the membrane Of the throat
all the more, and washes away thu
natural exudations which are thrown
out to protect the irritated mem
brane.
In some cases it may be advisable
to paint the throat with a ten pc,
cent solution of silver nitrate, but thi
had best be left to the judgment o.
a physician. Even though the anti
septic gargles do retard the develop
ment Of bacteria, they may produces
more harm than good through theil
destructive action upon the alread!
irritated cells of the tonsils or throa
membrane.
It is impossible to tell at the star
whether the case is one Of simple
tonsillitis or a more serious cas-
of diphtheria. The first thing t,
do is to discontinue all food entirely
having the patient drink large guam
titles Of distilled water. This dis
titled water is preferable to the ordi
nary tap water, as it is more quickl.
taken up by the tissues and thrown
out through the kidneys. The elm
ination of toxins through the kid
neys must be increased to carry Of