Notes on Diptheria.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1678, 25 February 1885, Page 3

Notes on Diptheria.

This disease attacks adults as well as children, but the latter are most liable to it. Th.- c-remeucement of an attack is not crehaarny attended with any veiy alarming fj id p toms : usually r. colder shivering fit cures on, a eote throat is complained of, the act of swallowing nest becomes diiiicuU, gradually mote to, and feverishness supervenes. It the iatterer be taken to a good light, the hanule of a spoon placed upon and pressing down upon the tongue, so that he observer can get a good view ot the throat, the tonsils will iTobsoty look ~ery red and swollen and having a Jotted appealauce. Very soon after this (unless checked) a false membrane or paliicic forms. It is something like coagulated mucus. At first it is rather translucent —iice it—gradual l ; it thickens and toughens. Toe du;k:u;ty of stralkwing is now very great, thefeverisli sympt uus increase and in a Very rhett tune this pellicle covers the whole oi the back part of the ineiuh, stielcning over the soft palate, and apparently Hy.'c same lime tending to pass down out of inspection's reach. The breath is very disagreeable . occasionally bleeding occurs, and a quantity cd saliva trickles from the mouth ; the voice becomes dull and nasal in character, there is a slight croupy cough, an( ) ( fu-n a fetid discharge lakes pure fnon the n-sc. and l ..-i.y the air passages get completely HU.I up, causing the patient to die of suffocation.

In any case •• prevention is betur than cure. ' It tuereb-re behoves every one of us to prevent, by every possible means in our pow- r, the spread of this dire disease. Our houses should be thoroughly fumigated with ealphur. ohilureu from infected houses should he refused admis-ion to school. Cuudy's fluid, carbolic powder, and No ."> acid, also lime, should he freely used, the first mentioned in the bedrooms, tie three latter in the cesspools. In shoit, all olf-m-ive m itter ehon.d be well d-'infected. Whole » case occurs patent* Will J.. Well to rfe that the spec'? are! al ws-.-ls u?ed by the infected ate kept horn th- .th r members of Unfunny. C.lothin,’ ha.l U-t be burnt. Immediately sore tiire a is complained of, the throat sh 'iind be ex inline 1 ms directed, and if only inflatr- 1 I a gargle should be used wi'bont delay. Any cl the following arc goa-:~ 1 part sulphur-- - acid to b puts of water. 10 drops sulphuric a .-id .or oi. of vitro! to half pint of water. 2 drachms chlorate of potash to one pint of water (honingi. 1 part sulphurous r.ciJ to two cf water might also be used as a sprav. A teaspor-nfui of c-ithei of the three first should be swallowed four or five times a day. Condy g fluid, b,oracle a.ml are also good. Chlorate of potash i- well adapted for children. Tablets of this is a convenient form.

A word of caution is here nec-tssarv to those busing cb'.orate for gargtes and sulphur for fumigation. Keep the two dry ingredient? quite separate, as under certain conditions they are dangerous, though harmless enough in or bv themselves.

leu drops ot tincture of steel in water, mav be taken by an adult three times a day. Children less in nroportien. Beef tea and miik should be given ad iil>. Immediately thne is the slightest* sign of any yellowish lo tking spots on one or both of the tonsils a medical man should be called in. In fact, it is the duty of all ihoae who have children under their t.we to do to m the ont-et, but there nines may possibly be of -ervke to those resident some distance fioia a township, necessitating delay iu procuring aid.