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71
CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY.

DIPHTHERIA.
During 1909, 7799, specimens were examined in the
Laboratory. Of these specimens about one seventh (1,114) were
primary examinations for diagnostic purposes. The remaining
specimens were from "contacts" who had been exposed to diphtheria
or from the throats of convalescents. The latter were examined
with a view of ascertaining whether the bacillus of diphtheria was
absent from the throat or nose. In some cases this organism was
very persistent, requiring many examinations extending over many
weeks before it was found to have disappeared.
Every case of scarlet fever admitted to the Hospital was also
examined bacteriologically, in order to ascertain if diphtheria was
present. Of these, 7.6 per cent, were found, on admission, to have
bacilli indistinguishable from diphtheria in the nose, while 1.8 per cent,
had similar bacilli in the throat. All these patients were specially
isolated in order to guard against the introduction of diphtheria into the
scarlet fever wards.
A large number of the specimens examined were from cases of
sore throat or nasal discharge occuring in children attending elementary
schools. In some instances these "sore throats" turned out to be
mild cases of diphtheria in which infection persisted for many weeks or
months though the children showed very little, if any, signs of ill-health.