The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1909-05-12

the defendant.
Dr.. Gilmore, at the request OF
Mr.. Mcdonald, told of the symptoms
of diphtheria and of tonsilitis. In
many cases it is hard to distinguish
between diphtheria and tonsilitis
early in the stage of the disease
owing to the fact that there are
often complications. The doctor
would not expect to find large and
painful tonsils in case of pure
diphtheria. He did not think it
usual for physicians to inject anti
toxin until there are Indication of
possibility of diphtheria. Some
physicians preferred not to give it
until their diagnoses are established.
The witness believed that some
physicians of recognized skill give
anti toxin only as last resort.
THE diagnosis of dlphtheria is
usually accomplished with difficulty
said DIR. Gilmore, owing to COM
plications." The doctor continued,
to state that layngeal diphtheria is
always difficult. Some symptoms
in the early stage of the
disease are like those in other
diseases and especially is this true
in the case of ]aryngeal diphtheria,
as you cannot see the affected part
and the use of laryngioscope is ex-
tremely difficult.
The witness testified that the
death rate from laryngeal diphtheria
is much greater than in the other
forms. He then described the
diagnosis of diphtheria when aided
} by bacteriology and stated that
direct examinations are unreliable as
nearly half of them fail. He also
explained the methods of culture.
The doctor was called to the
hospital and court adjourned until
9 o'clock this morning.
;. When court reconvened h s
: morning DR.. Gilmore resummed the
e stand for redirect examination BY
: the counsel for the defendant.
!. The witness was familiar with
h bacteriology, and indirect examina
e ton of smears often found /
necessary to use more than ont
d smear for diagnostic purposes. Th
d results of meteorological investiga
IS lions by culture. The doctor state
d that diphtheria bacilli are consic
,r cred a vegetable parasite. TIL
It staphylococcus and the streptococcu
E. germs form membranes in the throa
The membrane in diphtheria grow
e rapidly at times but the doctors e.
70 perience did not warrant n
d opinion on this subject.
as IF we have a train of symptom
20 common to several Diseases" sal
in DR.. Gilmore, we eliminate the con
ly mon symptoms until we find one lie
It's which is characteristic of some di
We ease. We have then diagnosed tt
an case by exclusion
Mr.. McDonald-"If the pate
it. was suffering with sore thro
re- Wednesday morning and when tt
IT. doctor called Thursday evening t
zee tonsils were found to be swollen al
he painful, temperature 1O3 or a lit
,m higher, pulse 80, no membrane p1t
ire ent, no discharge, and no swelli
Ic- OF the sub maxillary glands, WI
would you diagnose the case as?"
ow DR.. Gilmore-"I should think
of would be tonsilitis."
Mr.. Mcdonald Now, doctor,
the tonsils were painful Frid
in morning would you lance them?"
,os DR.. Gilmore THAT would (
pb- pend. I'd lance to relieve them
they looked as though there were
S." abscess or to relieve severe pa
ex- But this should be left to the jul
ave ment of the attending physici
less Laryngeal diphtheria is uncomn
ria, among adults and rare ame
children" The tendency he So
was to increase the size of the d
and of antitoxin since 1908.
Of Mr.. Mcdonald With the c
T. ditions remaining the same and
ard patient more restless Friday at
the lancing of the tonsils, with so
was coughing when the patient attemp