Domestic Animals in Relation to Diphtheria

Abstract

THE perennial alarm of the possible transmission of diphtheria from diseased animals to man is- again occupying the attention of the British daily press. This time it arose out of the death of a little girl who was thought by her mother to have contracted diphtheria from certain chickens which were kept in the house. The mother's view was supported by a medical man, who said that birds are subject to the germs of diphtheria and die of the disease. He had no doubt also that dogs and cats could have diphtheria, and he knew of instances of pigeons which had it.