Bad and imperfect drainage; [Footnote: "Now all my carefully conducted inquiries induce me to believe that the disease comes from drain-poison. All the cases into which I could fully inquire, have brought conviction to my mind that there is a direct law of sequence in some peculiar conditions of atmosphere between diphtheria and bad drainage; and, if this be proved by subsequent investigations, we may be able to prevent a disease which, in too many cases, our known remedies cannot cure."—W. Carr, Esq., Blackheath, British Medical Journal, December 7, 1861.] want of ventilation; overflowing privies; low neighbourhoods in the vicinity of rivers; stagnant waters; indeed, everything that vitiates the air, and thus depresses the system, more especially if the weather be close and muggy; poor and, improper food; and last, though not least, contagion. Bear in mind, too, that a delicate child is much more predisposed to the disease than a strong one.
211. What is the treatment of Diptheria?
What to do—Examine well into the ventilation, for as diphtheria is frequently caused by deficient ventilation, the best remedy is thorough ventilation. Look well both to the drains and to the privies, and see that the drains from the water-closets and from the privies do not in any way contaminate the pump-water. If the drains be defective or the privies be full, the disease in your child will be generated, fed, and fostered. Not only so, but the disease will spread in your family and all around you.
Keep the child to his bedroom and to his bed. For the first two or three days, while the fever runs high, put him on a low diet, such as milk, tea, arrow root, &c.
Apply to his throat every four hours a warm barm and oatmeal poultice. If he be old enough to have the knowledge to use a gargle, the following will be found serviceable—
Take of—Permanganate of Potash, pure, four grams,
Water eight ounces
To make a Gargle
Or,
Take of—Powdered Alum, one drachm,
Simple Syrup one ounce,
Water, seven ounces
To make a Gargle