DIPTHERIA.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 419, 29 October 1861, Page 3

DIPTHERIA.

We oasually alluded some, time since to tha following two letters which appeared in the TaranaM Herald of May 19 and June 8; they were communicated by Dr. Kiogdon of that place. May 19th. I oonsider diptljeria to be inflammatory in the first instance,—-not of a contagious character, but originating from a peculiar state of the atmosphere in which electricity is a prominent agent. To this may be added miasmatic exhalations in certain localities, acting upou persons susceptible of their influence, just as, after the same manner, other diseases of an eruptive or febrile kind become epidemic. I have said that, at its onset, the disease is inflammatory, after which, unless arrested early, it progresses in its course and increases in intensity, and as we have too much evidenoe, terminates fatally. This disease has its seat ia the thvoat, and mostly attacks ohildren and young persons arriving at mature age. The parts seized upou are in the pharynx, which is situated at the base of the tongue, and it soon extends to the larynx, just above the trachea or windpipe, and frequently implicates thq tonsils, which are the seat of quinsy, the epiglottis, which covers tha glotis in the act of swallowing food, and is situated just above and in conneotiou with the windpipe, and sometimes the upper part of the trachea or windpipe, and the oesophagus or meat tube, situated behind the trachea. All theseparts are surrounded by loose cellular substance beneath the lining membrane, and into this sub-cellular and submucous tissue is frequently iufiltrated a considerable quantity of serum, os> thitt part of the blood, like as in dropsy, aud this, in many cases, manifests itself by a great degree of swelling in the throat, both externally and internally, so as to render swallowing difficult and respiration embarrassed. It then must be regarded as having arrived at a very critical point, and is replete with danger. This swelling often leads to suppuration, or generation of matter. Should the matter escape, it may be a fortunate circumstance, and the patient will have much of the immediate danger thereby removed. Now as to the treatment, I may say that I am very averse to the iodiscrimate use of caustic, but, in the course of the malady there may ba occasion for its employment; however, certainly not at its commencement. Cold applications internally and externally, that is, the antiphlogistic or coojiog treatment, I have.found to be more beneficial It will not serve to trifle with s»\ob a disease i no time should bo lost by neglecting to use the proper remedial means which reason and experience indicate. As regards medicines—they, of course, should be left to the judgment of the medioal attendant in charge of the patient.