The Sun. — 1863-08-01 (London, England)

REMEDY FOR DIPHTHERIA.  This affection, which comprises those known under the various names of bad sore throat, aging, croup, and the French engine couenneuse, has hitherto been considered one of the most difficult to cure. We some time back gave an account of Dr. Trideau's method, which consists in administering storax under the form of a sprup ; but we now find in the Revue 77terap eutique a paper by Dr. A. De Grand, Boulogne, late French Vice-Consul at Havannah, in which he mentions ice as aninfallible specific. As this, from its extreme simplicity, would, if effective, be far superior to any yet tried, we cannot refrain from quoting the cases mentioned by the author, who had published this remedy as far back as February, 1860, and consequently complains (not without reason, if its efficacy he describes it) of the inexcusable negligence is such a n; practitioners in not taking notice of it, and thereby allowing many valuable lives to be lost. Tile following eases came under his observation after that date. In March and April, 1861, the disease in question broke out under a epidemic form, and chiefly attacked adults, with such virulence that in one week three with it, t young women ad died in a single house. One of Dr. Grand's i patients afflicted with blephacite was seized h as he could not immediately attend, owing to the severity of the case another physician was called in, who ordered emetics and aluminous Ogarignes, which produced no effect. At length Dr. Grand came, and found the tonsils greatly swollen, and a false membrane covering them. He immediately administered small pieces of ice, and by the following morning the tumefaction of the tonsils had diminished by half, and the false membrane had. nearly disappeared. That very evening she was enabled to take food. & few days after her brother was seized with sore throat, presenting the same preliminary symptoms as those of his sister ; but he, profiting by this example, without waiting for the doctor, took ice, and was rid of his sore throat in a few hours. Some days later Dr. Grand was summoned to a young lady who had been labouring under the disease for 48 hours; all remedies had failed, and the parents, relations, and friends of the family were plunged in the deepest sorrow. When Dr. De Grand ordered ice a general cry of astonishment was uttered by all present. Ice for a sore  throat ! Impossible! it was sheer murder ! Dr. De Grand maintained his ground, and after much expostulation, during which much time was lost, he obtained his end. Before 24 hours were over the ;'atient was in full convalescence. Being at Vera Cruz on a mission, he was requested to see a young man who was attacked with a malignant sore throat, and had been treated withonc effect by cauterisations with hydrochloric acid and astringent gargles. He again had to battle with the prejudices of the family, but was at length allowed to administer ice. The young man recovered in the course of the following day. Dr. De Grand has now been using this remedy for the last 12 years without having met with a single failure. This is what he says, bat even if only half what he says were true, the method should be tried by others. Cold gargles i have been employed with success by Dr. Blanc,op Strasburg; why tot ice P—Gegignan essenrar.  ~,