DIPHTHERIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1859, 1 August 1918, Page 3

DIPHTHERIA.

A SIMPLE REMEDY. A coiTcspoiidenl sends Iho (Allowing lo n Dunedin contemporary: : —Ruth Lockwood, llie nine-yeav-old (ddld of Thomas Lockwood, compositor in the Times Office, New York, became violently ill with diphtheria. She was so weak that it was deemed dangerous to try tracheotomy, or cutting open the windpipe. Dr. Nicholas, of West Washington, who was attending her, received a copy of the Paris Figaro, which contained a report made by Dr. Delthill. Dr. Delthill said that (he vapours of liquid tar and turpentine would dissolve the fibrous exudations which choke up the throat in croup and diphtheria. Dr. Delthill’s process was described. He pours equal parts of turpentine and liquid tar into a tin pan or cup, and sets fire to the mixture. A dense resinous smoke arises, which obscures the air of the room. The patient, the doctor says, immediately seems to experience relief, the choking and rattle stop, the patient falls into a slumber, and seems to inhale the smoke with pleasure. The fibrous membrane soon becomes detached, and the patient coughs up microbicides. These, 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 he first visited her. First pouring about two tablespoons 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 chikFs breathing became natural, and as the •smoke grew dense she fell asleep.'