238 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



Unfortunately, however, the attendance of a medical man is not always procurable ; 

 and for the benefit of those who have to rely on their own unaided resources, we give 

 a short sketch of the mode of treatment. In the first place the patient should be at once 

 sent to bed, for early rest in these cases is of the utmost importance. The room 

 should, if possible, be large and airy, and the greatest attention must be paid to ventila- 

 tion. At least one of the windows should be kept constantly open for an inch 

 or two at the top, so as to avoid any chance of stuffiness. It is a good plan to have 

 plenty of carbolic acid and water placed in basins about the room. It may be used 

 for receiving and disinfecting the discharges ; and a little occasionally sprinkled on 

 the floor will do much to keep the air sweet. Means should be taken to isolate the 

 patient ; and people who are not actually in attendance should not be allowed in the 

 room, both for their own sakes and for the sake of the sufferer. 



It is a good plan to give the patient plenty of ice to suck, in pieces of such a size 

 that they can be conveniently and comfortably held in the mouth. Ice is useful in 

 allaying the heat and pain in throat, and in checking that abundant secretion of 

 mucus which is so annoying from the constant hawking which it occasions. Its 

 beneficial effects are most marked when its use is commenced at the very onset of 

 the attack, and it should be continued as constantly as possible until it has fairly 

 declined. 



During the whole of the illness the patient's strength should be carefully sup- 

 ported by the administration of strong beef tea, milk, raw eggs, and other nutritious 

 diet. 



The drug on which we place the greatest reliance is iron. It is, we believe, best 

 given in the form of the solution of the perchloride of iron. The tincture of per- 

 chloride of iron is of the same strength and answers equally well, but it is made with 

 spirit, and we may not always want to give alcohol. In the case of an adult, thirty 

 minims should be given in an ounce of water every alternate hour, or half the quantity 

 hourly. The dose for a child is ten drops every hour in a little water. These are 

 large doses, but in diphtheria, as in erysipelas, iron, to do any good, must be given 

 frequently and in considerable quantities. The taste is rough, and should it prove 

 very objectionable, may be modified by the addition to each dose of twenty drops of 

 glycerine. 



We do not know exactly in what way the medicine acts. It may produce 

 its beneficial effects either by coming in direct contact with the throat or by 

 its general influence on the system. The solution of perchloride of iron does 

 good when frequently painted over the back of the throat. Great pains must 

 be taken to apply it very gently, or by increasing the inflammation it may do 

 more harm than good. 



In many instances the internal administration of the red iodide of mercury, 

 in doses of ^ grain, has been attended with the most favourable results. It 

 should be given every alternate hour in a few grains of sugar of milk. 



The question of the amount of stimulant that should be given is a very 

 delicate one. The mere fact of the patient suffering from diphtheria in itself 

 affords no grounds for the administration of alcohol. The stimulant should be 

 given because the general condition of the patient requires it, and not because 



