DIPHTHERIA 



1800 



DIPLOMACY 



tells the number of degrees of dip. The hori- 

 zontal direction at right angles to the dip is 

 called the strike. 



HOW DIP IS MEASURED 



DIPHTHERIA, difthe'ria, an acute infec- 

 tious disease of frequent occurrence among 

 children, characterized by a very painful sore 

 throat. The bacillus which produces diphtheria 

 causes the formation of a false membrane com- 

 posed of lymph, which appears first in patches 

 on the mucous membrane of the tonsils; it 

 then extends to the larynx, up into the nasal 

 passages and into the mouth.- In severe cases 

 it may extend down into the esophagus, form- 

 ing there such a growth as practically to close 

 the windpipe and to cause suffocation. The 

 glands in the neck and in front of the ear also 

 become swollen and tender. If the diphtheria 

 membrane is rubbed off a very tender bleeding 

 spot will remain. Weakness and depression, 

 fever, thirst, nervousness, sleeplessness and loss 

 of appetite are typical symptoms. Meningitis 

 and Bright's disease are frequently complica- 

 tions of diphtheria, and paralysis often occurs 

 during the attack or a few weeks later. The 

 disease begins with sore throat and low tem- 

 perature, and such a condition should always 

 receive immediate attention. Children show- 

 ing white patches on throat or tonsils should 

 be examined at once by a competent physician. 



Treatment. Success with diphtheria de- 

 pends upon early treatment, and that now in 

 general use consists in the injection of an anti- 

 toxin (which see) into the body of the patient. 

 This is a preparation containing a substance 

 that counteracts the poisons developed by the 

 germs and renders them harmless. Its use has 

 reduced the number of deaths from diphtheria 

 more than one-half, but it must be employed 

 in the early stages of the disease. Delay in 

 diagnosis and treatment of diphtheria cannot 

 be too strongly condemned. Recovery de- 

 pends upon checking the infection at the be- 

 ginning. 



Caution. Diphtheria is one of the worst of 

 contagious diseases, especially among children. 

 The patient should be isolated and all dis- 

 charges, clothing, bed-linen and utensils used 

 about the sick room should be thoroughly dis- 

 infected. After the patient's recovery, the house 

 should be fumigated and every possible pre- 

 caution should be taken to prevent the spread- 

 ing of the disease. Diphtheria may occur in 

 connection with other contagious diseases such 

 as measles and scarlet fever, and patients suf- 

 fering from these maladies should be carefully 

 watched for its symptoms. Inoculating other 

 members of the family with the antitoxin is 

 practically certain to prevent the spread of 

 the disease within the household, and this 

 precaution should be used when children at 

 school have been exposed, since it may prevent 

 an epidemic. W.A.E. 



DIPHTHONG, dij' thong or dip' thong, the 

 sound produced by combining two vowels into 

 a single syllable, as ou in out, and oi in void; 

 these are examples of proper diphthongs. An 

 improper diphthong is the combination of two 

 or more vowels in the same syllable, only one 

 of which is pronounced, as ai in rain, and ea in 

 breach. 



DIPLOMACY, diplo'masi, the system, 

 science, or courteous practice by which political 

 negotiations between two countries are con- 

 ducted. It involves intercourse on each side 

 through accredited representatives, according 

 to customs prescribed by international law; 

 these agents, in order of rank, are ambassador, 

 envoy extraordinary and minister plenipoten- 

 tiary, minister resident, charge d'affaires, secre- 

 tary of legation and attache. The greatest 

 nations send to each other envoys of the high- 

 est rank; smaller countries appoint those lower 

 in dignity, and receive representatives of like 

 rank. The consular system of a country is not 

 a part of its diplomatic service; its scope is 

 purely commercial. See CONSUL. 



A diplomatic office is not relatively an an- 

 cient institution. It was not a part of the 

 Greek political system, neither did the Romans 

 resort to it except to commission occasional 

 embassies for special purposes. As relations 

 between countries grew more complex there 

 developed gradually a need of political repre- 

 sentation at all times in the various capitals. 

 Cardinal Richelieu is regarded as the originator 

 of the system of resident ministers, although 

 he was probably not the first to realize its 

 advantages. Cobden, on the contrary, con- 

 tended that personal representation had been 



