Diptheria.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 209, 31 July 1884, Page 2

Diptheria.

The Sanitary Engineer says:— lt may be remembered that a good deal of prominence was given last' fall m the papers of 6he occurrence of diptheria m a family m Amsterdam, New York. Two children died at intervals of several months, and a third was taken sick. The Board of Health appointed a committee to investigate, which examined the house and its surroundings, and obtained .a statement from the attending physician. They have recently made their report, tiudingthat there were no bad conditions existing m or alxmt thehousesuffieionfe to explain the appearance of the di» souse, and they conclude that it came from 'a cat which was fondled by the child which first fell ill. This cat was found at the time to have a .swollen throat, and to be .suffering from a discharge from mouth and nostrils. It died a few; days afterwards. Three da s after the death of the cat the child fell sick with malignant diphtheria, and died m about a week. During its illness it played with a doll, which was afterwards given to a younger child, as it was supposed to have been properly fumigated with sulphur fumes. This child, shortly after being allowed to ptoy wilh tho doll, also fell ill of diphtheria, and . died. The third child also played with the doll and fell ill, but recovered. The Board of Health, therefore, traces the appearance of the disease m the family -after the death, of the first child to the doll.