436 MICROORGANISMS 



per 10,000 of population in the leading cities of the world dur- 

 ing the decade just preceding and the one just following the 

 introduction of the serum. 



1885-1894 1895-1904 



Before Use of Antitoxine Antitoxine Period 



Paris 6.41 1.49 



Berlin 9.93 2.95 



London 4.85 3.88 



New York 15.19 6.62 



Boston 11.76 6.34 



Chicago 14.29 5.13 



It might appear that, since the serum is such a perfect cure 

 for the disease, the death rate should .be reduced much lower 

 than the preceding table shows. It is a fact, however, that for 

 the best results the serum needs to be used in an early stage of 

 the disease and, since there are so many other types of sore 

 throats which may be confused with an early stage of diph- 

 theria, many people fail to call a physician in time to give the 

 serum a fair chance. 



507. Antitoxine as a Preventive of Diphtheria. Diphtheria 

 antitoxine is not only a specific cure for the disease but it has 

 been found very effective also as a preventive. When a case 

 of diphtheria breaks out in a family, the physician who at- 

 tends the case, the nurse, and members of the family who are 

 liable to exposure are generally given regular doses of the 

 serum. This treatment is usually effective in preventing 

 further spread of the disease. 



OTHER BACTERIAL DISEASES 



It will be impossible for us to consider other bacterial dis- 

 eases as fully as we have considered diphtheria. This study, 

 however, has given us considerable knowledge of the general 

 theory of such diseases and some brief mention of some of the 

 more important ones that remain will be of value. 



508. No Two Diseases Just Alike. It might appear to you 

 that, since we have worked out so perfectly methods of cure and 



