DIPHTHERIA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 92, 5 June 1877, Page 3

DIPHTHERIA.

This deadly enemy of childhood is causing terrible domestic affliction in Wellington. And already one home in Wanganui has been rendered sorrowful through its instrumentality. People are alarmed at its ravages and deaded approach, and well they may, for few homes in which its insidious presence manifests itself succeed in ejecting , the grim phamtom, until the joy has left their house, hold, and their choicest flowers have perished. Recognising the dead and subale nature of the malady, we hasten to lay the following before our readers, which appears in the ' Post, , headed " Diphtheria and its Cure," and bears the signature, " A mother of a large family" As no one knows when the next may break out, it is well to be prepared with available remedy so that none may have to make the bitter acknowledgement that perhaps an eifectual course of treatment was left untried:—

" Having resided in an inland town in Australia when the younger portion of the population was decimated by the terrible scourge, diphtheria, I deem it my duty to other mothers to publish, with your permission, the remedy I adopted successfully in my own family, and that of others when patients were pronounced incurable. Boil down camomile flowers in strong pickling vinegar, until the mixture becomes a pulp. Have ready a thoroughly heated cradle or bed. Place the patient in a warm bath for six or seven minutes, and than wrap, without drying, in a warm blanket, allowing no child to reach the patient; put to bed, then apply the poultice right round the throat, particularly under each ear. The patient will gradually fall into a heavy sleep, which must not be disturbed. Watch the poultice carefully, which will if well covered with flannel, keep warm for about two hours. Have ready another poultice which apply as before. The second poultice is generally sufficient; if not, others can be applied, as they do not scarify the throat. Be careful not to use the vessel, in which you make the poultices, for any food until throughly cleansed."