BERLIN

Abstract

<h3>The Value of Protective Inoculation Against Diphtheria</h3> During recent decades, Germany has not suffered to an inordinate extent from diphtheria. The extent to which spontaneous retrogression of morbidity and timely administration of diphtheria antitoxin each may be responsible is an open question. An inquiry was instituted by Prof. J. Schwalbe on the incidence of diphtheria and was published in the<i>Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift</i>, of which he is the editor. This brought forth the information that diphtheria in many sections has retrogressed to such an extent that it is sometimes difficult to secure sufficient instruction material for students. Only in a few places does the opposite condition prevail; more particularly, in Berlin. Still, the local increase of diphtheria in a few places has directed attention to active immunization against the disease, and the Prussian Landesgesundheitsrat (council on health), at a meeting held in November, recommended widespread prophylactic inoculation. It confers, in