A DIPHTHERIA CURE

Patea Mail, Volume LIII, 23 July 1934, Page 3

A DIPHTHERIA CURE

I A correspondent sends tin* following; Ruth Lockwood, (he nine year old I child of Thomas Lockwood, compositor ■in the ‘Times’ Office, became violently ill with diphtheria recently. She was so weak that it was deemed dan gorous to try tracheotomy, or cu ting open the windpipe. Dr. Nicholas, ol West Washington, who was attending her, received a copy of the Fans ‘hi garo, ’ which contained a report made by Ur. Dclthill. Dr. Delthill raid tint the vapours of liquid tar and turpen tine would dissolve the fibrous excretions which choke np the throat o; croup and diphtheria. Dr. Delthill’s process was prescribed. lie [tours equal parts of turpentine and liquid tar into a tin pan or cup and sots fire to ;thc- mixture, A dense resinous smoke arises, which obscures the ah of the room. The patient, the doctor says, immediately seems to experience relief, the choking and rattle .stopsthe patient falls into a slumber, ami seems to inhale the smoke with plea sure. The fibrous membrane soon be come* detached, and the patient coughs np microhicidos. .Those, when caught in a glass, may be seen to dissolve in the smoke. In the course of three days afterwards the patient entirely recovers. Dr. Nicholas tried this treatment with little Ruth Lockwood. She was lying gasping for breath when ho first visited her. First pouring about two tablespooufuls of liquid tar on an iron pan, he poured as much turpentine over it, and set fire to it; the rich resinous smoke which rose to the ceiling was by no means unpleasant. It filled the room, the child’s breathing became natural, and as the smoke grew dense she fell asleep.— ‘New York Sun,’ Mar 20, 1890.