Year: 1874

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


What say upon dipht theria is intended for the
benefit OF those whose incomes will not permit Of
their calling physician for every little irritation
OF the throat with which they or their children
may be aflicted. Yet IL is the neglect Of those
mild stages OF the disease when 1t attacks In that
way that results in an uncomfortable form Of it
and is so frequently fatal. Perhaps there IL no
disease that requires to be met at the threshold
so promptly as does diphtheria, and certainly, In
my experience, there is no disease more amensble
to treatment wheE thus met. 1t matters little
to me whether 1t is caused by Dactera, as some
hold, or, what seems more In accord with late tn-
vestigatton, oy the m.crococcus. 20 lar as treat


IL is enough to know that 1t is contagious in the
true sense OF the term, and that IT begins as
local disease more generally in the throat. on the
tonslls or at some point IN the mouth. and if not
then arrested It soon becomes systemic disease
from general blOOd-poisoning; that 1t IS not safe
like crumbs Of bread. lodged on the mucous sur
the micrococci nave already, at sucn points at
least, penetrated the surface beyond the reacn
ana the effect OF ordinary lotions 1t 10 found
also that the micrococci anound not only at the
points OF exudatiOn, but in the saliva, and are
logged in abundance on the mucous surface, where
there is little or no irritation. This shows
the Importance OF meeting doubtful cases with o
III the throat, but they might not understand that
o the whole hol bIcca cayy swarms with the micro.
no hesitany in recommending chlorine solution or
chlorine water for all doubtful cases or for all
cases That are now doubtful until physician Ii
obtained. believe 1t to be the most important
remedy In all stages OF the disease The mouth
spoonful OF 1t swallowed every hour, or every half
hour. This gives it local effect In the mouth and
or bacteria, II you please, iound in the stomach
and a systemic effect is also obtained.


The chlorine solution ! use Is made after the
manner oil watson, by putting ten grains OF pow
dered cnIorate OF potassa in dry eight-ounce
vial, and adding On the via ten or fifteen drops OF
the potassa cOrking the vial Tor i've minutes TO
allow the chlorine gas to be set free; then add
water ounce by ounce, shaking between each
ounce with the wal stopped, until the vial Is filed
This gives nice chlorine water, which any drug
gist can prepare after this method.


Now II this remedy could be introduced as o
domestic remedy among the poor in all cases OF
doubtful irritation OF the throat when a physician
Is not considered needlul, many severe cases OF
diphtherii might be prevented and perhaps many


EAST slxrY.Tissr STREET, NEW YoRK Dec. il,
1875.


The Disease Caused by Foul Air..
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-


One OF the primary causes or diphthefia on the
west side Of the city is the unwholesome air pas
sengers are forced to breathe In the street cars,
by reason OF the utter want OF ventilation. /
rode down this morning and the poisonous gases
emitte1 by sixty-tnree passengers confined in the
filthy vehicle were positively frlghtful The front
ventiator is almost Invariably shut in cool
weather, and the people being packed in and
always crowded forward, renders q passage up or
down town In one Of these hermetical boxes DAN
gerous to health, not to speak OF the discomfort
intendents OF these roads, or both for failure to
comply not only with the laws Of nature, but the
to move in the matter. The subject was by them
placed IN the hands OF referee to investigate and
maRng n. Ts %Ghs ago. VI" e de-


NEW YORK, Dec. IL, 1874 se.. st,ss.,