Faulding's Diphtheria Powder

	South Australian Medical Heritage Society Inc Website for the Virtual Museum
Home Coming meetings Past meetings About the Society Galleries of the Virtual Museum Main Galleries Medicine Surgery Anaesthesia X-rays Hospitals,other organisations Individuals of note Small Galleries Dentistry Nursing Ethnic medicine - Aboriginal - Chinese - Mediterran	Faulding's Diphtheria Powder Acknowledgements: We are most grateful to Lyn Phillips for contacting us and sending us photographs of her mother Corry Phillips's Diphtheria Powder vial. Additional information was obtained from Lateline, (abc.net.au 22-9-2003) and Google. In the middle of the 19^th century the population of Victoria increased five fold to half a million (521,070) because of the "gold rush". The settlers mainly came from China, Europe, America and South East Asia in search of gold. In 1872 an epidemic of diphtheria enveloped the world, and it is reported that in Australia each year 600 persons, mainly children perished from the disease. Diphtheria was given its name by a French Physician, Pierre Bretonneau (1778-1862), using a Greek word diphthera "prepared hide, leather", apparently referring to the leather-like membrane which occurs in the oro-pharynx and can cause asphyxiation. He recommended tracheostomy with considerable success. Early in the 20^th century Emil von Behring published a paper indicating that immunisation using the diphtheria toxin was possible, and in the 1920's this was introduced world wide. It is now a part of a triple vaccine and no recent cases have been reported from the USA or other developed countries. In the late 19^th century, many Chinese gold miners were affected, and (before vaccine was developed) the Chinese herbalists in Australia became noted for producing the Diphtheria Powder. It became popular, and the South Australian Firm of Faulding produced the powder as suggested by the Chinese herbalists Ah Sue and Fee Mun. Dr. Blair of the Victorian Medical Society analysed the powder and stated that the powder contained: "alum, carbonate of lime, nitrate of potash with camphor and mush". His report was not supportive, and with the development of an effective vaccine the powder was no longer used. PHOTOGRAPH KINDLY PROVIDED BY LYN PHILLIPS SHOWING THE VIAL, GLASS TUBE AND THE FAULDING'S BOX. A ONE DOLLAR COIN INDICATES THE SIZE. CLOSE-UP OF THE TEXT ON THE VIAL. PART OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF THE POWDER. There is little doubt that the Faulding's Diphtheria Powder was of some help in the treatment of diphtheria. It is unlikely that a reputable drug company would embark on its production without some beneficial evidence. The excerpt from the instructions may provide the reason. The firm recommends to clean and disinfect everything that patients secretions came into contact with using their famous Eucalyptus oil (Solyptol) and suggest additional use of "Phenytas" (a disinfectant made by Faulding) or carbolic acid (phenol) as a spray and/or solution to kill the bacteria in the room. This would very likely kill almost all viable organisms in the room and reduce the chance of re-infection. It is possible that the insufflation of the powder may have had some astringent benefit as well. -o0o-

Acknowledgements: We are most grateful to Lyn Phillips for contacting us and sending us photographs of her mother Corry Phillips's Diphtheria Powder vial. Additional information was obtained from Lateline, (abc.net.au 22-9-2003) and Google.

In the middle of the 19^th century the population of Victoria increased five fold to half a million (521,070) because of the "gold rush". The settlers mainly came from China, Europe, America and South East Asia in search of gold.

In 1872 an epidemic of diphtheria enveloped the world, and it is reported that in Australia each year 600 persons, mainly children perished from the disease.

Diphtheria was given its name by a French Physician, Pierre Bretonneau (1778-1862), using a Greek word diphthera "prepared hide, leather", apparently referring to the leather-like membrane which occurs in the oro-pharynx and can cause asphyxiation. He recommended tracheostomy with considerable success.

Early in the 20^th century Emil von Behring published a paper indicating that immunisation using the diphtheria toxin was possible, and in the 1920's this was introduced world wide. It is now a part of a triple vaccine and no recent cases have been reported from the USA or other developed countries.

In the late 19^th century, many Chinese gold miners were affected, and (before vaccine was developed) the Chinese herbalists in Australia became noted for producing the Diphtheria Powder. It became popular, and the South Australian Firm of Faulding produced the powder as suggested by the Chinese herbalists Ah Sue and Fee Mun.
Dr. Blair of the Victorian Medical Society analysed the powder and stated that the powder contained: "alum, carbonate of lime, nitrate of potash with camphor and mush". His report was not supportive, and with the development of an effective vaccine the powder was no longer used.

PHOTOGRAPH KINDLY PROVIDED BY LYN PHILLIPS SHOWING THE VIAL, GLASS TUBE AND THE FAULDING'S BOX. A ONE DOLLAR COIN INDICATES THE SIZE.

CLOSE-UP OF THE TEXT ON THE VIAL.

PART OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF THE POWDER.

There is little doubt that the Faulding's Diphtheria Powder was of some help in the treatment of diphtheria.
It is unlikely that a reputable drug company would embark on its production without some beneficial evidence.
The excerpt from the instructions may provide the reason. The firm recommends to clean and disinfect everything that patients secretions came into contact with using their famous Eucalyptus oil (Solyptol) and suggest additional use of "Phenytas" (a disinfectant made by Faulding) or carbolic acid (phenol) as a spray and/or solution to kill the bacteria in the room. This would very likely kill almost all viable organisms in the room and reduce the chance of re-infection.
It is possible that the insufflation of the powder may have had some astringent benefit as well.