Diphtherite : its prevalence in Albany : read before the Medical Society of the State of New York, February 2, 1859 / by Sylvester D. Willard.

  • Willard, Sylvester David, 1825-1865.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diphtherite : its prevalence in Albany : read before the Medical Society of the State of New York, February 2, 1859 / by Sylvester D. Willard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    5/6
    Diphtherite, like influenza, is doubtless a zymotic disease, and the formation of the membrane upon the fauces one of its mani- festations. In its pathology it is nearly allied to scarlatina. Deprive a case of scarlatina maligna of its efflorescence, and such cases do occur, and it would require a delicate diagnosis to distinguish it from some of the modifications of diphtherite. But these are points upon which I hope gentlemen of the society, Avhose observations have been more extended than my own, will take occasion to express fully their views. During the last week I made an effort to get the mortuary sta- tistics from this disease in Albany, and for this purpose called upon nearly every practitioner in the city. With only three excep- tions, the information was promptly and kmdly afforded me. There are reported as having died one hundred and eighty-eight, nine of which were without the limits of the city. Within the city one hundred and seventy-nine cases. The first case occurred in the south part of the city, as early as the second of April, and the second case is reported on the twentieth of the same month, in the same section of the city. The last cases occurred on the 26th of February and 15tri of March,* showing that the disease is not yet extinct. From April, no cases are reported until June ; the epidemic then increased slowly, there being but few cases until September. The greatest number of deaths took place in November. But three adults are reported as having died; the remaining number are children, and mostly under the age of twelve years. In fifteen families there were in each two deaths; in four families there were in each three deaths; in one family there were four— the whole number of children died. I add the monograph of a single case. It occurred in the family of Dr. L. G. Warren, who has kindly placed the account at my service. On Monday, January 24thr my son, aged nine years, was in his usual health ; showed no symptons of disease, and went to bed well. He a.voke about three o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, the 25th, with nausea; after vomiting he fell asleep. At eight o'clock, I discovered swelling on the left side of the neck. He complained of pain and stiffness in the back of his neck. On examining his throat I found the tonsils enlarged, and on each a spot of thick membraneous deposit as large as a quarter of a * Twelve of these eases have been reported since this paper was read, on Feb. 2.