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41
Name
Age.
Clinical Characteristics of
Throat.
Bacteriological Diagnosis
B. Diphtheriae present †
Absent -
First
Examination.
Second
Examination.
Whether
notified and
whether
received into
Hospital.
Rose S. 16 Diphtheria diagnosed No bact. No bact. Notified and
from clinical symptons diagnosis diagnosis received.
Amelia S. 10 Fauces natural, no in- + Notified but
flammation, no membrance not received
brane
Alice S. 4 Tonsils swollen and in- ? + Notified and
flamed, no membrane received.
Lily S. 2½ Both tonsils swollen, no ? + Notified and
membrane, excoriation received,
of upper lip and alae
nasi
John S. 12 Both tonsils red and in- No bact. Notified but
flamed, superficial ulceration diagnosis not received
and moist sticky
exudation on left
tonsil, no membrane
Alfred S. 8 Vomiting and headache, - + Notified but
fauces inflamed and red, not received
submaxillary gland
enlarged, no membrane
Fredericks. 4½ mths No exudation and no + + Not notified.
signs of inflammation,
fauces normal, no membrane
These facts raise several questions of some practical importance.
First, it is probable that Amelia S. had previously suffered from
Diphtheria, and subsequently, after recovery, acted as a "carrier"
of infection to her sister Rose, the first case notified. Secondly,
none of the last six cases had a diphtheric membrane in the throat.
Thirdly, there is the difficult question of the relation between
bacteriological diagnosis and notification. It is now well known
that the true bacillus of Diphtheria may be present in the throat of
an apparently healthy person, who may thus act as a "carrier,"
a source of infection, to other persons who may contract the clinical