The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1909-05-08
professor at the state university,
was called by the plaintiff.

WdS SdllCu ny l'AS P1aAuSAA'
DR.. Brown was acquainted with
the doses of anti toxin usually ad-
ministered to diphtheria patients
and said that in case of laryngial
diphtheria, although authorities
differ, he thought the correct amount
would be 1000 units.
Senator Peterson Doctor, take a
youth 20 years old, in good health,
taken sick Wednesday morning.
tonsils swollen on Thursday evening.
examination Friday morning showed
tonsils red and swollen and the
throat sore, during Friday the heart
action is increased a little, tempera.
ture about 1O3 Friday evening,
Saturday morning the heart has
| become weaker and it is necessary
to administer strychnine, the tenn.
perature has dropped to 101 and it
| is discovered that the patient is
suffering with laryngial diphtheria.
What amount of anti toxin should
be administered Saturday after
noon?''
DR.. Brown-"I would say 10000
units"
Senator Peterson Taking the
same case with this alteration that
heart action becomes more irregular
and it is found necessary to admins
ter strychnine Saturday night and
the disease is found to be laryngial
diphtheria Sundayfmorning. What
would you advise for an initial
dose?"
DR.. Brown-"I think about
$4,000 units"
At the request of the plaintiffs S
counsel, he then explained the sub
sequent treatment if the anti toxin
had been administered Saturday
night. The largest dose that he
knew of giving to a patient was
$4,000 units.
Crossexamine dby Mr.. Mcdonald
he could not remember the largest
dose he had ever seen. He could
not give 10000 units where there
was no suspicion of diphtheria.
Would use an immunizing dose of
1000 units. Practically the same
admissions were secured by Mr..
Mcdonald from DR.. Brown as had
been secured from DR.. Osborn earl
ier in the day. Diphtberia usually
is considered a painless and tonsil-
tits painful disease; symptoms of
larynigal diphtheria might be mis-
taken for tonsilitis; high temperature
and no membrane are symptoms of
diphtheria; case of large and pain
full tonsils, no membrane, pulse go,
and temperature 1O3 might be
diagnosed as tonsilitis.
DR.. Brown admitted that he could
not make a correct diagnosis of
laryngial diphtheria early in the
disease before membrane had
formed. e.
DR.. Brown stated that the only
| way to distinguish between real and
pseudo membrane is by culture.
Mr.. Mcdonald And a physic.
ian to whom a hypothe tical question
has been proupounded, such as Sena.
tor Peterson and I have propounded
to you, is not in a position to judge
what amount of anti toxin at any
particular stage of the disease should
be given a particular patient, is he?''
DR.. Brown, No, he is not"
On redirect examination by Mr..
Peterson, DR.. Brown admitted that
it is customary now to increase the
dose of anti toxin from what it was
several years ago, and that if death
occurs by some delinquincies on the
part of the patient it results immedi
ately. Asked if he thought patient
was contributorly negligent if be
walked around the house Wednesday;
Thursday, Friday, Saturday or went
to bed Wednesday evening, DR.
Brown said that he did not think
so.
| DR.. Brown was kept on The
stand until adjournment. being
asked practically the same question:
as were put to Dr.. Osborn ane
being a harply cross-examined a
every step bv by Mr. Mcdonald
When court convened at 9 o'clocl
this morning, Albert Johnson,
brother of the deceased, Osca
Johnson, was called to the stand.