LIME JUICE IN THE TREATMENT OF DIPHTHERIA.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4585, 14 September 1883, Page 2

LIME JUICE IN THE TREATMENT OF DIPHTHERIA.

M. Czarfcoryski, M.D., of Stockton, California, writes as follows to the London Lancet: During a prolonged residence in the interior of China, I became acquainted with the fact that the, Chinese place great reliance during epidemics of diphtheria on the internal use of the fresh juice of limes, and of the fruit itself, which they consume ia enormous quantities in every conceivable form—as lemonade, with nalive spirits, cut in slices, etc—during . attacks "of this. dreadful disease, with apparently mosfc successful results, it hardly ever failing t& effect a cure. The Chinese consider it « specific, and will, in ease of need, do anything to obtain a supply. Since I have come back to California, as also in Louisiana, I have used limes arid their juices in my practice as a physician with most successful results in case of diphtheria, even in the most desperate cases. As soon as I take charge of a case of. diphtheria, I ordered limes to be administered as freely as possible, injw manner the patient can be prevailed^upoTi to take them, especially in the form of hot lemonade, sweetened with white sugar or honey, or cut in slices with, powdeted white sugar. Besides lime juice (which I suppose acts by imparting; an excess of oxygen to the circulation, and thereby prevents formation of vibnonos, etc., 'and so has almost a specific effect on disease.^ I prescribe whatever drug may bo indicated to relieve symptoms as they develop, and impart strength by appropriate stimulants and nourishment.