DIPHTHERIA

a contagious disease, characterized by fever and a nous exudation on the mucous surface, usually at the back of the throat and fought tonsils. An attack generally comes on gradually, with a sore throat, on examRom. in at i on found to be reddened and; sooner or later, with white patches, often accompanied by shivering and of vomiting and swelling of the glands of and epends on the bacteriological examination of a swab taken from the throat. Rom.} The person is markedly depre ed, and Rome | there is a danger of sudden heart failure. A.D. | Recovery is usually slow, The treatment is to give an it to rin as el early as po ible;, ib neutralizes the in z poisons i produce the disease, i and causes in the individual a change for | the better in a few hours. Disinfectants may also be sprayed on the throat. of Since the introduction of the antitoxin of treatment the mortality has fallen. of The cause of the disease is a bacillus, called the Klebs-Léffler bacillus after its two discoverers. of The disease is endemic, becoming epidemic from time to time, and it is tyrant believed to be on the increase, occurring chiefly in children, specially those under 367; ten years of age.