268 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Sept 



Questions in Regard to the Diphtheria Bacillus. 



M. A. VEEDER, M. D. 



There is no longer any question in regard to the identi- 

 fication of the diphtheria bacillus. That has been settled 

 beyond dispute. There is much to be learned, however, 

 in regard to its varieties, and their behavior under dif- 

 ferent conditions in and out of the body, and in associa- 

 tion with other micro-organisms, as well as when present 

 alone. For the purpose of such study there are two 

 methods, each of which should supplement the other. 

 These minute forms of life become known to us, not only 

 as they appear under the microscope, but also by the be- 

 havior of the diseases which they produce. Thus the 

 questions that force themselves on our attention during an 

 epidemic become a guide for further microscopical study, 

 and it is for the most part questions encountered in this 

 way that it is now proposed to mention. 



A very important question is that of the life history of 

 the bacillus in the human throat under various forms of 

 treatment, and without treatment. Since it has become 

 customary with Health Boards to make the duration of 

 quarantine depend upon the results of microscopical ex- 

 amination of cultures of bacilli from the throats of those 

 having the disease and those exposed, there has been a 

 tendency to concentrate attention upon this mode of pro- 

 pagation from individual to individual. There is no doubt 

 that so long as the bacillus is present, even in the ab- 

 sence of all clinical symptoms of diphtheria, there is dan- 

 ger of conveying the disease, and measures of throat dis- 

 infection, and immunization of the person, and quaran- 

 tine, should be persisted in until it is certain that all dan- 

 ger is past. Attention to detail is important in this con- 

 nection. Disinfectant solutions for use in the throat re- 

 quire to be rightly applied at sufficiently frequent inter- 

 vals, and in such manner as to reach behind the palate 



