Part II 



SERUM THERAPY 



Chapter IX 



ANTITOXIC SERUM THERAPY 



DIPHTHERIA 



Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease, 

 caused by the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus which can 

 grow upon any mucous membrane. At the site 

 of their growth, these bacilli generate the toxin 

 which is absorbed by the lymphatics, carried 

 by these to the general circulation and by the 

 blood to all parts of the body. 



Historic Diphtheria was known to the an- 

 cient Aretaeus, about 50 A.D., who described 

 under the name of ''Syrian Ulcer" the charac- 

 teristic pharyngeal membrane and its exten- 

 sion to the larynx with consequent suffocation. 

 The first great epidemic of diphtheria which 

 can be definitely recognized was described by 

 the Spanish physicians and occurred between 



77 



