166 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Jim 



attending physician or the health oflBcer, the bacteriolo- 

 gist inspects the case personally and applies the swab 

 himself. 



Thus by means of the bacteriological examination or ex- 

 aminations we know in wiiat cases to give the diphtheria 

 antitoxin, and when and how long to maintain the quar- 

 antine. Diphtheria-antitoxin has effect only in cases of 

 true diphtheria caused by the Klebs-Loffler bacillus. The 

 city of Kalamazoo provides free the administration of 

 the antitoxin in cases of the city poor. It also provides 

 free the bacteriological examination. The city is thus af- 

 forded the best obtainable protection by the early detec- 

 tion of true diphtheria and the prompt cure of cases. Of 

 the humanitarian aspect I need not speak. The rapid cure 

 by antitoxin saves expense to the city in cases among the 

 dependent poor who must be furnished with provisions 

 and attendance during quarantine. The bacteriological 

 examinations also save expense to the city by maintain- 

 in*' quarantine only so long as the patient is a real source 

 of danger. A further saving is effected by limiting the 

 use of the expensive antitoxin to cases of genuine diph- 

 theria, where only it can be good. 



"The average practitioner is not in a position, and can 

 not be considered competent, to make a bacteriological 

 examination in a case of suspected diphtheria. The bac- 

 teriological method is most efficient in a city the size of 

 Kalamazoo where all parts are accessible and where are- 

 port can reach the physician promptly in 10 or 12 hour.x. 

 Usually the specimen is sent in at evening and the report 

 given in the morning. — Report State Board of Health.'' 



Is it True ? — "If you breathe on a piece of g:lass, and im- 

 mediately apply a microscope thereon, you will discover 

 tracings of beautiful foliage."— Albert Alberg, 439 31st 

 street, Chicago, 111. Will any of our readers who verify this 

 please send descriptions of what they see? 



