The therapeutics of diphtheria / by A. Jacobi.

  • Jacobi, A. (Abraham), 1830-1919.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The therapeutics of diphtheria / by A. Jacobi. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    THERAPEUTICS OF DIPHTHERIA. By A. JACOBI, M.D., PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. [Read May 23, 1888.] Mr. President : You have conferred upon me the honor of an invitation to make some introductory remarks to your discussion on the treatment of diphtheria. This invitation I was anxious to accept, if for no other reason than to see the profession of Philadelphia at their home and at work. That I should bring anything new or striking to you, I never for a moment believed, since I have always been in the habit of reading your books and journals and the proceedings of your societies. But it pleased me to infer from the demand that I should appear before you, that I was, to a certain extent, considered one of you, and to prove by my willingness to come that I appreciated the honor offered. When I considered the subject which is to be the topic of your deliberations this evening, and remembered the vastness of its litera- ture, it became clear to my mind that a digest, ever so small, of what has been written, would fill more than many evenings, and still fall short of accomplishing the object in view. I was aware that I must not come here with literature. Aou will excuse me, therefore, for only detailing in plain language some of the facts gathered in my contact with diphtheria these thirty years, and the therapeutical measures which I have learned to appreciate and to practise. Thus, I shall not touch upon the large number of panaceas which have ascended like rockets and never were seen again. Diphtheria is a contagious disease. Severe forms may beget severe or mild forms. Mild cases may beget mild or severe cases. There is probably no spontaneous origin of diphtheria, any more than there is a spontaneous origin of cholera or scarlatina. What has been called follicular amygdalitis (or “tonsillitis”) is diphtheria in many, perhaps most, instances. It is seldom dangerous to the patient, because the tonsils have but very little lymph communication with the rest of the