Medicine: Diphtheria

Diphtheria is one contagious, infectious disease that doctors have just about learned to control. Even so, there was an approximate 30% rise in cases in the U.S. last year. UNRRA called diphtheria Europe's "leading epidemic disease" since 1942. In Japan, diphtheria continued to claim new victims. U.S. Public Health officials shook their heads, clucked warningly, advised 100% child inoculation.

Inoculation is no sure preventive—but it helps. The New York City Health Department has found that "in over 75% of the cases reported [in 1945] either immunization had not been performed or was inadequate. None of the persons who died of diphtheria had...

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