DIPHTHERIA. 73 



the disease in horses. The reaction consists in rise of temperature 

 and local oedema. The dose is about i c.c. 



Bacillus Diphtheriae (Klebs discovered, 1883; Loffler cultivated, 

 1884). The diphtheria bacillus is found not only in the false mem- 

 brane which is so characteristic of the disease, but may be found in 

 abundance in the more or less abundant secretions of nose and pharynx. 

 In studying the epidemiology of diphtheria, especial attention must be 

 gh'en to the examination of nasal discharges. The B. diphtheria? may 

 be in pure culture lying entangled in the fibrin meshes or contained 



FIG. 26. Bacillus of diphtheria. (X 1000.) (Williams.') 



within leukocytes in the membrane or be associated with staphylococci, 

 pneumococci or especially streptococci. These latter complicate 

 unfavorably and cause the suppurative conditions about the neck. In 

 fatal cases the diphtheria bacillus may be found in the lungs. Ordi- 

 narily, however, it remains entirely local and does not get into the circu- 

 lation or viscera. 



It produces soluble absorbable poisons which are designated toxin 

 in the case of the one responsible for the acute intoxication, parenchy- 

 matous degeneration and death; and toxone for the poison which pro- 



