70 
WORLD OF INVISIBLE LIFE 
What does a 
diphtheria germ 
loo\ li\e? 
Diphtheria 
microbes 
to another by such insects as the mosquito. 
Malaria and yellow fever are the most common 
of these diseases. 
The diphtheria germ, as we see it under the 
microscope, is slender and rod-shaped. It 
usually enters the body through the nose of 
mouth, and its favorite place for growth is the 
surface of the throat. It sometimes grows in 
the lining of the nose, but rarely gets into the 
lungs or into the blood. It attacks the tissues 
and gives off a strong poison which goes all 
through the body, often injuring the heart, the 
nerves, and the kidneys. The diphtheria germ 
more often attacks children than grown-ups, 
and is much more dangerous to them. It is 
often passed from a sick child to a healthy one 
through the use of a common drinking cup, 
the moistening with the tongue of a borrowed 
lead pencil, the exchange of handkerchiefs or 
candy or chewing gum or things like that. 
Diphtheria is usually cured by the use of 
diphtheria antitoxin. This is a substance 
od of animals that have had 
What does a 
diphtheria germ 
loo\ li\e? 
Diphtheria 
microbes 
Some microbes are 
harmful and cause 
sickness 
