Diphtheria And Its Care

A small quantity of either sulphato of iron, tannin, or chlorate of potasb, put dry upon the tongue, and allowed to diasolve there, once in every hour, have all been found to be most efficiënt remedies in the early stages of diphtheria. This terrible disease appears tinder three varieties of forms : lst. There is a fever, severo pains in the back, bones and lirubs, and very great prostration. There may be no soreness of the throat, but, on examining it, small white specks will be noticed on the tonsila, but few or none on t:;e rest of the throat. These cases will recover under any and every variety of treatment in f our to six days. The great, but false, reputation of many remedies and physicians is based upon the necessarily favorable results of these cases. 2d. Large patches of false membrane will be observed, both on the tonsils and back of the throat; but the glands of the neck do not become swollen. The majority of these cases will also recover under very simple treatment, unless the disease extends down to the wind-pipe, which it rarely does. 3d. True malignant diphtheria, with swelling of the glands of the neck and under the jaw; profuse and often offensive exudatioiiS in the mouth and throat; more or less discharge from the nostrils. Chlorate of potash is a disinfectant as well as a curativo remedy, and, if given pure and dry upon the tongue, every nour, night and day, Will rarely disappoint the practitioner. A smal! dose, every night, may act as a preventive remedy. Sometimes tannin may be given more readily than the chlorate of potash. The sulphate of iron is rather more irritant, and must be in smaller quantities. Tlie raain points in the use of the remedies are to give them dry upou the tongue, and frequently and regularly, both by night and day.