Buckeye cookery

The Treatment of Diphtheria.—The symptoms of diphtheria are much like a common sore throat accompanied by a severe cold. The sore throat is accompanied with more fever than an ordinary cold, and there is an indescribable sickish feeling, which is easily recognized by those who have once experienced it. Later, white patches appear in the throat, on the tonsils, the back of the throat, and on the arches of the palate. The throat is generally but little swollen on the outside, but in all cases when there is a suspicion of diphtheria, tt is not safe to delay sending for a physician, as the disease does its work quickly, and must be dealt with in time or it is fatal. There are really three varieties of the disease. The first is characterized by fever, severe pains in back and limbs, and very great prostration. There may be no soreness of the throat, but small white specks will be noticed on the tonsils. In the second, large patches of false membrane appear on the tonsils and back of the throat; but the glands of the neck do not become swollen. In the third, which is the true malignant diphtheria, there is swelling of the glands of the neck and under jaw, profuse and offensive discharges from the mouth and throat, and more or less discharge from the nostrils. In the first two varieties, the disease generally yields to simple treatment, but the disease is too subtle and dangerous to be trifled with, and a physician should be summoned. One of the best remedies for domestic use in the early stages of the disease, is, probably, chlorate of potash, put into a tumbler of water until ‘ no more will dissolve, and used as a gargle. If swallowed it is harmless. It is cheap—five to ten cents worth being sufficient for almost any case, and it may be kept in the house for emergencies. It is also an excellent remedy, used as above described, for ordinary sore throat. In the case of children too young to use the gargle, make a swab on the end of a firm round stick, by binding on a small piece of linen or cotton cloth; use only once and burn it, i.e., the rag. Take the handle of a teaspoon and press the tongue down so as to see plainly the condition of the throat; swab quickly and draw out. Do not worry the child by poking the stick down its throat a half dozen times, make a sure thing the first time, for if you touch the affected parts, well, better do it again in two hours. Dip swab in a preparation (which may also be used as a gargle) of alcohol, diluted with water, but as strong as the patient can bear. The alcohol acts quickly upon the poison of the disease, and is a remedy easily obtained and kept at hand. When attacked with diphtheria, the patient should be kept in bed with sufficient clothing over the body for comfort, and no more. The room should be kept well supplied — with pure air, and nourishment should be given in the shape of well-prepared beef-tea every two hours. Cut fresh beef into pieces, put into a bottle - without water, and boil ina pot of water. To an adult give a great spoonful of the beef-tea thus made, every two hours, and less in proportion to age. If this does not agree with the patient, or there is any difficuly in the patient’s swallowing it, substitute the white of an egg; beat till smooth, mix with half a tumbler of water, and give a table-spoon ata time. This is very nourishing, and is often taken more readily than beef-tea. Jt is particularly important to nourish the patient with proper supplies of food in the early stages of the disease, aS there is danger that the supply of vitalized blood will not be sufficient to meet the demand made by the disease. >