Diphtheria / by William P. Northrup ; measles, scarlatina, German measles / by Theodor von Jürgensen ; ed., with additions by William P. Northrup ; authorized translation from the German, under the editorial supervision of Alfred Stengel.

  • Northrup, William P. (William Percy), 1851-
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Diphtheria / by William P. Northrup ; measles, scarlatina, German measles / by Theodor von Jürgensen ; ed., with additions by William P. Northrup ; authorized translation from the German, under the editorial supervision of Alfred Stengel. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    31/768 (page 23)
    The latter condition the author regards as probably of streptococ- cus origin. The difficulties surrounding the positive proof of milk in- fection in epidemics of this kind are necessarily very great, for during the prevalence of an epidemic of diphtheria in a rural community those who handle the milk are quite as likely to harbor diphtheria germs as those to whom it is sold; and unless the presence of the diph- theria aerms is shown not onlv in the throats of those about the dairv o ^ ^ or farm, but also (and this must necessarily be a difficult task) in the milk-supply, the latter cannot fairly be condemned as the source of infection. The table on page 22, compiled l^y Dr. R. G. Freeman, of Xew York, is of interest in this connection (see “Med. Record,” March 28, 1896). Domestic animals (birds, cats, etc.) have frequently been re- garded as the means of carrying diphtheria. While the susceptibility of these animals to the disease is well known, certain pseudomem- branous diseases occasionally seen in them are probably not diphthe- ria, but of a different bacteriologic nature. Among the more indefinite sources of infection are defective drainage, decomposing substances, sewer-gas, etc.; and while it cannot be denied that certain unsanitary conditions conduce to the impairment of the general health, to catarrhal conditions about the throat and nose, and thus render the system less able to withstand the assaults of any infectious disease to which it may be ex])osed, never- theless the presence of the Fbffier bacillus is absolutely essential to the production of diphtheria. SEASONS. The influence of the different seasons of the year upon the occur- rence of diphtheria has been variousl}^ estimated by different observ- ers. Thus, the T.ondon Metro])()litan Asylums I^oard report that from 1888, when diphtheria was first admitted to the hospitals under its charge, to 1900, the maximum death-rate from this disease occurred in January, the minimum in April. Thorne reports the deaths from diphtheria in England and Wales by quarters from 1870 to 1873 (inclusive) as follows: First quarter, 1000; second (piarter, 819; third quarter, 847; fourth quarter, 1192. In the old city of New York, from 1891 to 1900, cases of diphtheria and croiq) occurred as follows: First quarter, 23,738; second quarter, 23,904; third quar- ter, 15,322; fourth quarter, 20,671; which in this climate at least shows a decrease in the number of cases for the summer months.