ANTITOXINS 443 



rooms that are hot and poorly ventilated (cf. 247). A bad habit, 

 which too many of us have, is that of going into warm buildings, in 

 cold weather, without removing our outer wraps; when we go out 

 again, overheated, we are in danger of serious trouble. 



432. Diphtheria. Diphtheria is often mistaken for a 

 cold; this fact is one reason why a cold should not be left 

 to chance, but should be treated by a physician. If a 

 child has a croupy cough that comes not only at night, 

 but also during the day, its throat should be examined at 

 once. Small, tough, grayish- white "patches" in the 

 throat indicate diphtheria. Membranous croup is diph- 

 theria in the larynx. 



The germ of diphtheria is scattered abroad by the 

 violent coughing of the patient and by the discharges from 

 his nose and throat. All cloths containing the discharges 

 should be disinfected or burned. After one has had the 

 disease, he may have the germs in his throat for months, 

 and may give the disease to those with whom he comes in 

 contact. The germs may also get into the throat of a 

 healthy person, and yet be held in check because of the 

 person's "resisting power." This healthy person may, 

 however, infect milk, handkerchiefs, drinking cups, dishes, 

 etc., and pass the germs on to others who cannot resist 

 the disease. The cause of the severe illness in diphtheria 

 is usually its poisonous toxin, although sometimes the 

 throat is closed by the diphtheria membrane. Death 

 sometimes comes in two or three days. 



433. Antitoxins. The word antitoxin means "against 

 toxin." When germs get into the body, they produce 

 toxins (cf. 422). To protect itself, the body produces 



