Diphtheria Scare in Wairarapa.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 73, 27 February 1885, Page 2

Diphtheria Scare m Wairarapa.

Just at tho present m Qreytown there is what may be called a diphtheria scare (says ttie Wairarapa Standard). If any person is known to have a sore throat or cold on the chest ; or if a medical man is seen to visit any dwelling, the rumour is soon m circulation that So-and-so has got the diphtheria. From inquiries we have been unable to fined any truth m the report that diphtheria is prevalent m Greytown. "We know of two or three children who were kept from school because they complained of a sore throat, but it has proved to be nothing more and they are now quite 5 well. The scare has arisen through reports taken home by the school children, which are most unreliable at anytime. A correspondent sends the following recipe to tho Standard : — " Make two small bags that will reach from ear to ear, and fill them with woodash and salt, dip them m hot water and wring them out so that they will not drip, and apply them to the throat, cover up the whole with a flannel cloth, and change them as often as they become cool until the throat becomes irritated near blistering. For children, it is necessary to put flannel cloths between the ashes and the throat to prevent blistering. When the ashes have been on a sufficient time, take a wet flannel cloth, and rub it with castile soap until it is covered with a thick lather, dip m hot water and apply it to tho throat and change as they cool. At the same time use a gargle made as follows : — One teaspoonful of cayenne pepper, one ditto of salt, one of treacle, m a teacupful of hot water, and when cool add ono-fourth of good vinegar, and gargle every fifteen minutes until the patient requiries sleep, also a gargle made of castile soap is good to be used part of the time. As prevention is better than cure, I shall bo happy to advise anyone how to avoid infection." [In connection with the above, we may say that the treatment of diphtherin has illustrated the greatest triumphs of homeopathy. Pastor Gau6tad, of Palmerston, now an invalid from the effects of a severe attack of typhoid, m a long experience of homeopathic treatment of diphtheria by himself m which he has attended hundreds of cases, is able to affirm with a conscientOU3 regard to truth and fapts, that he lias never lost. & single case. Ed. M. S,]