CHAPTER VIII 

 DIPHTHERIA J 



Diphtheria in England The Diphtheria Bacillus The Pseudo- 

 Diphtheria Bacillus Clinical Diagnosis The Xerosis Bacillus 

 Diphtheritic Affections of Birds and Animals 



DIPHTHERIA seems to have been known from the earliest 

 ages, being recognised by the classical (medical) writers, 

 and it was epidemic in England and on the Continent 

 during the Middle Ages. Bretonneau 2 experienced an 

 outbreak at Tours, 1818-1821, and gave to the disease 

 the name " Diphterite " (afterwards changed to " Diph- 

 terie ") from the formation of membranes which is so 

 marked a feature in it. In England the diphtheria deaths 

 have only been separately scheduled since 1855. Since 

 1881 until recently there has been a steady increase in the 

 prevalence of diphtheria, particularly in the large towns, 

 but latterly the prevalence seems to be decreasing. 



As regards croup, it is universally admitted that the 

 vast majority of cases of membranous croup are cases of 

 diphtheria. 



Diphtheria is distinctly a disease of the young, especially 

 at the ages from two to ten, and this holds good both for 

 London and for England and Wales. 



That diphtheria is an infective disease is amply proved 

 by the history of epidemics, and by the recorded cases 



1 See The Bacteriology of Diphtheria, Cambridge University Press, 

 1908. 



2 See Memoirs on Diphtheria, New Sydenham Soc., 1859. 



265 



