Year: 1875

BY EZRA N. HUNT, N. D.


Diphtheria has been epidemic in New York
city for a whole year, and the last two weeks
place it next to consumption in the bill of NOR
tallty. 1t has come to be name significant of
terror, and many group oflitte ones is STERN
ly broken in upon by its quick invasion.--
There are some points in respect to it. knowE
edge of which is valuable to the laity as well
as to the medical profession as aiding to guard
against Its causes or to suspect OCCASION for
anxiety, so as to secure timely medical advice.


lSt. 1t belongs to the group of zymotic dis
eases, L. e., of diseases caused by the ''products
of animal or vegetable decomposition or spe-
cific emanatons from the body in state of
disease" They are also called fermentive and
foul air diseases. 'It is found says the Re-
port of the New York Board of Health THAT
with few exceptions, the


LOCAL FILTHlNEss AND NEGLECT


which favor the propagation of any one Of the
ZymOtc diseases, likewise favor all. We
know not the specific germ, but we do know
the conditions of its propagation. 1t springs
into activity amid putrescent or excremental
matter. From such nucleus it may indeed
invade homes of elegant cleanliness, but
as rule has its selections as to these.
1t is much more apt to seize upon those in
y
" done or where defective sewer-traps or i'm
perfect ventilation secure foul air. Everywhere
attacking tho outside of its incubating nest,
its intensity is usually much mitigated if only
the surroundings are good. When such dis
ease is prevalent. the first thing for house
holder or head of the family to do is to look
we'll to the condition of his house. See to it
that the yard. sub cellar, and basement are in
proper state. Look we'll to sewer-traps and
ya and that No fnu1 or 10
ing. See to it that the furnace which distri-
butes heat is not distributing impure air as
as well. Sometimes when the furnace air is
obtained from outside, the cellar air is so heat
ed by the furnace as to rise through the floors,
and so, if impure, contamnate the house. 1t is


GOOD PRECAUTIoN


ITO have ,tte chloride of lime caTboiis acid
'soiuiiou in those>roous especially exposed to-
impurity of air. A single pound OF chloride
of lime will go good way if kept dry in q
close-stoppered bottle, half tablespoonful be-
ing placed every other day in saucer near
places exposed TO foul air. In damp days it
will, with occasional stirring, moisten itself,
or it may be sprinkled with little water. A
thirty-cent quart bottle of Squibb'S carbolic
solution, which comes with directions, will an
swer 4 similar purpose. Each day is demon
strating TO medical men the grand scope of
preventive treatment, and much of this must
necessarily depend upon the intelligence of un-
professional men. The sanitary management
of his household is a study for the parent next
in Importance to its moral and social manage
ment The prevention of disease is much
greater economy than its after treatment. Add
to faith virtue, which includes cleanliness
Next the laity need to know


HOW TO RECOGNIZE


the approach Of diphtheria The insiduous
nature OF the disease is one of the chief sources
Of its dangers. 1t constantly occurs to physi-
clans TO be called to see cases which have made
such headway as to be utterly hopeless, and
yet the friends have seen no alarming symptoms.
shall never forget New Years morning
when saw the minister's little girl of eight
summers, playing with interest with her pres
entS, when knew that before sunset she would
slip away. 1t is not strange when the disease
has progressed, that we fail to reach it, The
blood has ceased to be a vitalzing fluid. 1t
has undergone radical changes. The deposit
IN the throat is but a Sign-board. We have
seen it early in the disease at other distant
points, showing how fully it is a blood disease
Taken in time, there are few diseases over
which treatment is so sure to triumph We
say treatment not medicne), although medi-
cine has its noble sphere, yet the doctor is to
regulate food and surroundings as mmch as to
prescribe. Hence the Importance of early at
tentiou.


If YOUR CHILD is USwELL


when diphtheria is prevailing, take il to q
strong light, have it open the mouth wide and
d-presS the tongue. If you can see the back of
the throat we'll you will know whether there
is the least white deposit upon it. Or if You
will gently depreSS the tongue with the handle
of Il spoon, you are quite sure to get view al
most as easily as the doctor, of whom the child
is more fearful Any outside swelling should
early attract attention. We have no faith in
the ability of persons to treat the disease them
selves, even to preliminary extent. The doc
tor himself often needs to vary his treatment
by circumstances. The use of drachm of
chlorate Of potash dissolved in an ounce, or
two tabespoontulS, of warm water and niven
in tcaSpoonful doses every three hours to a
child three or more years old, will be very well
if your doctor is delayed in his arrival, as is
sometimes the case in the country. 4 piece of
salt pork sprinkled with little mustard, or a
a liniment such as the hartshorn liniment will
do well for counter-rritation on the outside,
until you receive further directions 1t often
happens to the physician to


LOSE THE FIRST CASE


in family and save all the pest, Just because
the first is left too long, he is not able quick
ly enough to change surroundings, so as to
reach it


Other children should always be kept away
from a diphtheric child. 1t is not as contac:.
Gus as small pox and is seldom carried, but it
can no longer be doubted that it is communica-
BILE under some circumstances The utmost
cleanliness is required as to all garments and
bedding and expectoration. 1t has heen nv
lot to meet several epidemics of the disease,
and know dozens Of physicians whom be-
lieve would save four-tifths of those who die,
if only they had charge of the house five days
before the attack, or even if only seeing the
patient at the ouset and able fully to regulate
care and surroundings. In fact, the success
OF its real treatment is one of the advances ,f
science, and even its exceptional cases of in
tense mallgnlty are being watched and studied
most thoroughly.