Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1878 — Diphtheria an old Disease. [ARTICLE]

Diphtheria an old Disease.

Diphtheria even so wise a man as the Hartford Courant’s agricultural editor pronounces a modern disease, but it isn’t. In a letter to the Portland Advertiser, Dr. C. P. Ilsley, of Cambridge, shows that it is an old disease with a modem name. As far back as 1737, Falmouth, now Portland, suffered severely by it, and it was spoken of as “ the most fatal scourge that ever visited New England, and rapidly hurried its subjects to the grave ; the throat swelled, became cohered with ash-colored specks, great debility and prostration ensued, with putrefaction.” It broke out in Kingston, N. H., in May, 1735, and 1,000 persons fell victims to it in New Hampshire. In the following August it reached Exeter, and Boston in September. Four thousand took the disease in Boston—onequarter of the population, as Boston then contained but 16,000 inhabitants. The mortality was small here in comparison with other places, the deaths numbering only 114. This was probably owing to having prompt and more effectual remedial agents at command. In Haverhill, Mass., the victims numbered 199. So much was it dreaded that two fast days were observed at Falmouth on account of it—one in 1735, and another the next year. — Boston Herald.