Show diphtheria EPIDEMIC TUB newspapers have said but little about the prevalence of diphtheria over considerable areas in the northwester states but as a matter of fact the ravages of that terrible disease a are re S so 0 much more extensive and deadly than were those of yellow fever in florida list last summer as to make the latter scourge seem comparatively insignificant such bach is the statement of a chicago paper the acme journal publishes gub publishes lishes a scientific article which describes esc ribes what are supposed to be the causes of the disease its the treatment which should he be followed in combating it the article states stated that in toe the present epidemics death does not as a rule result from suffocation but from a failure of the heart here is the great danger the rhe throat symptoms are ex tr ensely slight until the child is nead ead t TUB tat diphtheritic patch present on the throat tonsils anci ana palate are so taint in many of these fatal cases as to escape attention until the sudden coll collapse p alou e of the child demands an explanation alil l which is found in a grayish patch the pe peculiar cular throat odor which frequently reveals di diphtheria litlie ria ha has been absent in many of OF these cases the constitutional symptoms are often absent until the sudden final collapse the article in endeavoring to account for the epidemic says it is probably due dee to ane strain put upon the drainage by the abundant rainfall and the resultant interference with outflow the best method of checking the spread of the disease would be to see that the house drains are in proper condition joe the following preventive measures are am recommended in many cases drain regulation will not be feasible in tho those s e cases as well as in those where it is feasible of all sewer outlets and inlets by chlorinated lime or solutions of chlorinated soda will be an excel tent lent means of preventing the entrance of a diphtheritic element or depressing effects of sewer gas which while not itself causing the disease so weakens the heart that the ahlf chief effects of diphtheria are localized there from this paragraph it would inter lly appear that sewerage is by no a specific against diphtheria unless in connection connect loa therewith other precautions are taken the following suggestions respecting this deadly malady seem to emba embody ady an amount of scientific c truth and good compon common sense sufficient to justify theirl reproduction here the earliest symptoms of the dis dig ease are indistinguishable from rom those of an aa ordinary sore throat indeed the constitutional symptoms of the latter often exceed them in in severity in the event of sore throat threat occurring in a child in a neighborhood where diphtheria is prevalent the childs throat should be carefully e examined xa mined and it if a whitish gray patch be observed on the tonsils or palate or elsewhere this should be touched with a pinch of sulphur oi where this is not feasible a few drops of tincture of iodine should be poured on a handkerchief and held before the mouth to inhale the vapor able the physician to is sent for the childs strength should be kept up with milk I 1 or perter ably ayass frequently given strong coffee Is also alao ox or great value in sustaining the heart the child should be isolated from all other children visitors should it if possible not be allowed and should be prevented from kissing it the princess alice lost her life by kissing a child cats dogs fowls and rabbits should be kept out of the room since these frequently convey the disease there should be a small quantity of sulphur burned atom om time to time in the sick chamber everything every thing which comes from the child should be dis infected it would be well also tu to fumigate the apartment in which the child was first taken sick the childs food should be frequently given and be of greatly nutritious arit t ous quality the spread of at diphtheria h t can be readily checked by isolating for a short time in a room by itself each child which suffers from a sore throat during a diphtheria epidemic children during such an epidemic should be forbidden to indulge in indiscriminate kissing saias ki whether of adults ad alts or children the symptoms of the present epidemic are slight fever swelling of the glands of the throat and sudden exhaustion ha all these are able from ordinary sore aare throat prevention on the lines already laid down gives better results toan than any treatment the physician should be called early in cases of sore throat in a diphtheritic neighborhood |