CHAPTER IX 

 THE ACUTE SELF-LIMITED INFECTIONS 



IN this chapter are included the infectious diseases 

 which are due to a specific microorganism and which 

 tend to run a definite clinical course. 



BACTERIUM DIPHTHERIA 



Diphtheria is a disease characterized by the develop- 

 ment of a so-called false membrane upon a mucous 

 membrane or abraded surface, caused by the Bacterium 

 diphtheria, or diphtheria bacillus, or Klebs-Loffler 

 bacillus, from which the soluble poisons are absorbed 

 by the circulation. This false membrane is an inflam- 

 matory exudate thrown out by the body under the 

 stimulus of the bacteria, as a means of protection 

 against them. Myriads of bacteria are included in 

 the meshes of this exudate. If the false membrane 

 be removed a raw bleeding surface is exposed. Some- 

 times this is done for the purpose of applying remedial 

 agents. The false membrane of diphtheria appears 

 most commonly upon the throat and nose, but it may 

 be found upon the eye, vagina, or skin wound. 



This is the disease par excellence for explaining the 

 effect of toxins, extracellular and separable from the 

 bacteria. The organisms do not enter the body, but 

 only their toxins are absorbed and are responsible 



