CHAPTER II.
DIPHTHERIA.

IN 1883, Klebs pointed out the existence of a bacillus
in the pseudo-membranes upon the fauces of patients
suffering from diphtheria, but it was not until 1884 that
Loffler succeeded in isolating and cultivating the organ-
ism, which is now known by both their names—the
Klebs-Loffler bacillus.

The bacillus as described by Loffler is about the length
of the tubercle bacillus, about twice its diameter, has a

FIG. 77.—Bacillus diphtherias, from a culture upon blood-serum; x 1000
(Frankel and Pfeiffer).

curve similar to that which characterizes the tubercle
bacillus, and has rounded ends (Fig. 77). It does not
form chains, though two, three, and rarely four individ-
uals may be found joined; generally the individuals are
all separate from one another. The morphology of the
bacillus is peculiar in its considerable irregularity, for

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