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16
Diphtheria is contracted after short contact, and
has a short period of incubation ; it is a throat disease
characterised by great infectiousness, high mortality,
and the frequent incidence of paralysis as an after
effect. It usually becomes prevalent after the
occurrence for some time of mild cases of sore
throat; breaking out with great virulence and high
mortality, and then gradually declining. It has been
found that in all true cases a bacillus, known as
" Loeffler's,' is to be found, and it is supposed that
under certain conditions the bacillus gradually gains
in strengh and virulence until the acme is reached.
It has been discovered in the mildest and most
severe cases, and is often found in the throat as long
as seven weeks after apparent recovery, and will,
doubtless, be discovered in the earlier cases that at
present escape observation.
Experiment has shown that so long as the
bacillus is present the cases are infectious, and it will
therefore be apparent that by isolating the patient
until examination shows that the bacillus has
disappeared, the chances of infection will be avoided
and this terrible disease brought under control.
The Loeffler bacillus can be readily discovered
by cultivation and by examination under the microscope,
but this could not be done by medical men in
their ordinary course of practice. The Health Committee
of New York have taken measures to
ascertain the presence of Loeffler's bacillus in all
cases of suspected Diphtheria notified to them, with
a marked diminution in the mortality of that disease
in their city. In a district of 50,000 inhabitants
suspicious cases could be followed from the schools
to their homes, and the throat examined bacteriologically
in a laboratory established for the cultivation
and examination of the bacillus. From this laboratory
a number of small boxes containing apparatus and
printed directions would be supplied to certain