126 



DIPHTHERIA 



five prophylactic injections. The treatment was 

 instituted after three cases of diphtheria had 

 developed in a children's home. No secondary 

 cases developed. Voisin and Guinon describe an 

 epidemic of diphtheria in the Salpetriere Hospital 

 among idiots and epileptics. Prophylactic injec- 

 tions were given to all those exposed to the con- 

 tagion. After that, but four cases appeared, all 

 mild in character. One severe case developed, 

 however, two weeks later, ending fatally in twenty- 

 four hours, showing that the prophylactic action of 

 the antitoxin, while efficacious, is not of very long 

 duration." 



It would be easy to prolong ad infinitum the 

 proofs of the curative and preventive efficacy of the 

 antitoxin : it would be impossible to find any evi- 

 dence to be weighed for one moment against these 

 proofs. Finally, there are four records that ought 

 to be quoted more fully : the 1894 report from the 

 Hospital for Sick Children, Paris ; the 1896 report 

 of the American Paediatric Society; the 1898 report 

 of the Clinical Society of London ; and the records 

 of the Hospitals of the London Metropolitan 

 Asylums Board. 



I 



The report from the Hospital for Sick Children, 

 Paris, is contained in a memoir, S drum- T her apie de 

 la Diphtdrie, the joint work of MM. Roux, Martin, 

 and Chaillon (Annates de P Institut Pasteur, 

 September 1894). It gives the results of the 

 serum-treatment during February to July 1894. 



