Handbook of bacteriology for nurses / [Harry Wardwell Carey].

  • Carey, Harry Wardwell, 1875-1935.
Date:
1930
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Handbook of bacteriology for nurses / [Harry Wardwell Carey]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    is caused by the poisons that are absorbed and affect the various organs and tissues, particularly the muscles of the heart, the kidneys, the adrenal glands, and the nerv- ous system. The effect of the poisons upon the heart results sometimes in sudden death, following even slight exertion like sitting up in bed. Nurses should not allow patients to exert themselves for this reason. Paralysis may follow diphtheria when the nervous system has been attacked. Diagnosis.—Diphtheria in the throat and nose is detected by finding the bacilli in the wipings made from the membrane. It is not safe to rely solely upon the presence and appearance of a membrane, because such membranes may be due to infection with microorgan- isms other than the diphtheria bacilli, such as the staphy- lococcus and streptococcus. In order to say whether a membrane is due to diphtheria or not, a sterile cotton swab is rubbed over the membrane, and then rubbed on the surface of a tube containing coagulated blood- serum. The tube and swab are now sent to the labora- tory and incubated at body temperature from twelve to twenty-four hours in order to allow the bacteria pres- ent to multiply. The growth is now smeared on glass slides, stained with Loffler’s methylene blue solution, and examined under the microscope. If diphtheria bacilli are present they can be readily identified by their appearance. Spread of the Disease.—The disease is spread to others chiefly by means of the bacilli thrown from the nose or mouth by coughing and sneezing. The sputum contains the bacilli in large number. Indirectly, the disease is spread from the sputum by means of drinking-