Diphtheria and its Treatment.

Southland Times, Issue 9962, 10 September 1888, Page 2

Diphtheria and its Treatment.-

A? them in r '•.■«»< iv t> in U ye hut <>«tB alarming and f reqnently ■ f Bt'al ' disease , exists in this district at preaent; and as j many families are placed in isolated posi- j tions where a difficulty is experienced in getting prompt medical aid a description of a method of treatment recently set fortb in an interesting pamphlet on the subject will be opportune. The author^ j. Mtrrray Gribbes, M.D., of New Plymouth, frank y j a-iraits (us do'.s aleo Dr O'Carroil, Health ; •Officer, in an appendix to. the pamphibi) j that for tnauy years they treated ibn disease by tbe recognised methods with but indifferent success, but both have gradually abandoned these for eimpiy persistent steaming with hot water in whio'i blue gum leaves are infused ; the result being that almost without exception their patients pull through, rapidly recover, and are less affected with the paralysis which sometimes follows the absorption of the virus by the system. DrGibbeß gave a popular description of the rationaleoi the method he adopts, but as what the householder i» principally concerned with is the mode of using it these remarks may be confined to a description of his plan of action. The inhalation of steam for diphtheria he admits has boen used in different ways for years, and he had tried it but never could got the patient to persevere with it : indeed it was impossible to carry it out as the patieDt must sleep, otherwise he would die of exhaustion. Instead therefore of making tbe patient go to the steam he now makes it go to the patient — to make him breathe an atinoßphere of steam so long as any membrane remains in the throat. The result has been that h has not lost a case where this treatment was carried out. The procedure is as iollows : — " Erfoct a tent over the patient's bed, preferably by tying j an open umbrella to its head ami then j placing a sheet over it. Place a jug (not too large) beside the bed, ;under the edge of the tent and about three feet from the sufferer. Every half hour, night and day (ttiisis most important) place a handful of blue (not red) gum leaves in the jug and pour boiling water over them, ihe patient can thus sleep and the steam, taking away the pain in the throat allows the appetite fair play. Occasionally lift the front of the tent and do not cause tbe patient to perspire by using too much wa er at once or placing tbe jug too near him ; an even warm moist atmosphere is only required, and at a pinch water should be used alone if the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus are not at band, la the majority of cases the pain ia tbe throat has so lessened at the end of 48 hours that the patient is able to drink fluid freely and on the fourth day to take solids. Dr Gribbes sajs it ia "simplicity itself, and as efficacious ac simple, for I have proved it through two epidemics of tbe disease and never found it to fail. In 1881 82, I only lost one infant who had been neglected owing to tbe parents having to attend to five other children, and yet my colleague a during the same epidemic informed me that they had lost every bad case they bad. Ia two familieß closely allied five ehildreu and the nurse were} attacked. I attended the first and two last, while a colleague attended the other three. My patients recovered, but the others died Since I first brought my treatment forward medical men in other parts of the colony have been equally successful as myself. I have treated 46 and Dr O'Carroil 40 during the present epidemic, . without a death, making 123 in all. This encourages me to mafew tho treatment known." Dr Gibbes very properly insists that a patient suffering from diphtheria should always be seen by a medical man, and that everything coming from a diphtheritic patient — even spoons and food utensils — should be buried or burnt. For the guidance of parents and others toe following note may be useful —'• Diphtheria is a dangerous and contagious disease which requires prompt and skilled treatment. Ii attacks ihe throat, forms a membrane (sometimes called " false ") and often tiives rise, even in a few hours, to great difficulty of breathing. The voice becomes Husky, there is a good deal of cougb, with expectoration, and diarrhoea is not un common; care should be taken to'iso'att> the patient or the disease will rapidly spread." The face ia sometimes dusky the lips blnisb, tbe neck swollen, witb pains shooting from the throat to the ears and down the neck. All domestic animals Bhould be kept out of the house as it has been demonstrated that they are vehicles for carrying the disease.