Guaiacol, topically, as a prophylactic against diphtheria / by Solomon Solis-Cohen.

  • Solis-Cohen, Solomon, 1857-1948.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Guaiacol, topically, as a prophylactic against diphtheria / by Solomon Solis-Cohen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    [Reprinted from The Philadelphia Polyclinic, Vol. IV, No. 7, Feb. i6, 1895.] GIJAIACOL, TOPICALLY, AS A PROPHYLACTIC AGAINST DIPHTHERIA. BY SOLOMON SOUS-COHEN, M.D., Professor of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics in the Philadelphia Polyclinic, Physician to the Philadelphia and Rush Hospitals, Consulting Laryngologist to the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children, etc. An epidemic of diphtheria made its ap- pearance at the Pennsylvania Institution for Feeble-Minded Children at Elwyn, Pa., dur- ing 1894, beginning August 2gth and ending November 28th. The cases occurred in two buildings ; in the main building from August 29th to September isth; in the building known as The Manse from October 12th to November 28th. The disease was undoubtedly introduced by some child who had been home on a vaca- tion or by v^'siting friends, the main building being open at all times for inspection It was sui)posed to have been carried from the main building to the manse by a careless attendant. Dr. Abbott, who made an ex- amination of the buildings on November loth, 1894, found the sanitary condition of both buildings to be good. The cases which occurred in the main building were light and developed in the fol- lowing order : August 29th, lease; August 31st, I case; September 3d, i case; Sep- tember 6th, I case; September loth, i case; September 15th, i case. After September 15th no new case developed in the main building. In the manse the first case was noticed on Oc- tober 12th. The child was immediately iso- lated. The cases in the manse developed there- after in the following order: October 14th, i case; October 17th, 3 cases; October i8th, I case; October 19th, i case; October 22d, I ca.se; October 23d, i ca.se; October 24th, 1 case; October 25th, i case; October 29th, 2 cases; October 30th, i case; November 2d, I case. There was then an interval from that date to November 27th without a case. In the morning of November 2'7th, on the second floor, a floor not previously involved, a case was found. The next morning on the third floor a case was found. Since then there has been no other case. The use of guaiacol as a prophylactic dates from November 9th, during the time the epidemic was in progress* in the manse. The following particulars are believed to be of interest: The building is of brick, is situated on the brow of a hill, and is 200 feet from the nearest of the other buildings. It has four floors. The first floor is used as a basement, the second floor being occupied by day rooms and dormitories, the third floor by day rooms and dormitories, the fourth floor by drying room, school rooms and sleep- ing apartments for the attendants. It is occupied by 134 children. The sick children were taken to an isolation ward, a building situated about 600 or 700 feet from the near- est of the other buildings, and with the ex- ception of the physician in immediate at- tendance. Dr. Frank White, and Dr. M. W. Barr, chief physician of the institution, who visited the sick children occasionally, those in attendance upon the sick did not come in contact with other members of the household. Dr. Barr and Dr. White observed the necessary precautions in their