Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1889 — CURE FOR DIPHTHERIA. [ARTICLE]

CURE FOR DIPHTHERIA.

lowa "State Register" Recipe Tested for Twenty Years. ' The greatest difficulty id not successfully treating diphtheria ia through not beginning treatment in time. Only a ■abort delay often places the loved patient beyond the reach of phygici-

an’s skill and all human aid. Therefore it is all important that a physician be promptly called at the earliest appearance of diphtheria symptoms. It is good policy to keep the prescription which has carried a child through a siege with this disease and also a supply of medicine in the family medicine chest This plan will enable mothers 'who are good nurses to safely combat future attacks. Nearly twenty years ago Dr. W. A. Scott a physician of ability and skill, sent the Register a recipe for the cure of diphtheria, which h is republished it several times at the request of subscribers who had mislaid, lost or worn out the article and did not feel safe without the recipe. Dr. Scott’s generosity in giving it to the public at the expense of his own practice has been greatly appreciated by the mothers of lowa, as h s been frequently shown by the letters published in praise of “The Register's Diphtheriq Cure.” thus robbing the generous doc* tor out of all credit for his philanthropic motives in making the remedy public. Thousands of children in country homes are frequently beyon\ all earthly aid before a physician and remedies can he' brought to their relief. Therefore, it is highly important that the papers of the country should give publication to the recipe, again published herewith, with the added suggestion that the medicine should be kept constantly in the house, and treatment begin on the first symptom of the disease. If there should be doubt as to the disease being diphtheria. use the remedy at once, as it will do no h rm. and send for the family physician without deiay. Practice will make any good nurse skillful in the treatment of this most greatly dreaded disease, but in a severe case do not trust to your own skill, but send for the physician without delay. The good Dr. Scott is still using the treatment in his own practice and writes the Register: Pleasantvii.le, Oct—The yeare that pass only confirm me in the fact that this is as near a specific in diphtheria as medical skill can reach. It don’t fail if usedin time and as dire: ted. I use it successfully to this day. The reciDe can be filled at any drug store, and used by any person without danger: Take ten grains of permanganate of potassium, and mix with one ounce of cold water. As soon as dissolved it must be applied with a rag or sponge mop or swab to the whitish places in the tonsils, and other parts that have the diphtheria membrane on. Do this very gently, but thoroughly, every three hours until better; then every six hours until well. It does not give pain, but is rather nauseous to the taste. If the tongue is coated white I mix one drachm of hyposulphite of soda and five drops of oil of sassafras in four ounces of syrup made of sugar and hot water, and give a teaspoonful every one to three hours as needed when awake. If the toneue Is not coated white I mix twenty drops of tincture of Phytolacca in four ounces of cold water and give a teaspoonful every one to three hours as needed, when awake. The phytolacca its the common poke root of the South, and as it loses its strength by drying and age, the tincture should be from the fresh root, or it is worthless. It is well to apply a little sweet oil, or cosmoline to the outside of the throat to protect from the action of the air, as the patient must be protected from all danger of getting chilled. In the beginning of the disease in mild cases, the above solution of permanganate of potassium is all that I use, and all that is needed, as the disease is local at first but rapidly affects the whole system when seated. In the stinking form of diphtheria this solution soon destroys all smell, and in every case destroys the diphtheria membrane without leaving any bad effect

bahind.

W. A. SCOTT. M. D,