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Klebs Loeffler is to be found in any of them, diphtheria
anti-toxin is not only useless, but an
explanation is to be found of any mortality under
anti-toxin treatment. If this is so, it shows the
value of a bacteriological examination in determining
the nature of a doubtful case, but in cases
where the clinical evidence is well marked the
remedy should unhesitatingly be resorted to. That
this is indicated is shown by the figures in the
above table and by universal experience, for the
result of an examination could not well be
obtained in the first 24 hours, and valuable time
would be lost.
I have drawn up a chart which shows by
means of coloured lines the total deaths from
varying causes during the year, marking those
that are due to infectious or communicable
diseases by red lines, and so forming a comparative
table by which the respective mortalities can
be seen at a glance. It will at once be noted that
cancer, or malignant disease as it is often termed,
accounts for a larger number of deaths than that
from any other cause. This may appear rather
alarming to some, and might lead them to think
that this disease is on the increase. I believe that
it is generally held that this is not the case, but
rather that better and more skilled means of
diagnosis are available than heretofore, and that
surgery and surgical operations lead to the more
accurate determination of causes of illness and
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