Diphtheritis: A concise historical study of the late epidemic in California, 1856–7, and its diagnosis, pathology, and treatment.
This nonfiction work surveys an 1850s diphtheritic outbreak, tracing how physicians approached the disease, from local caustic treatments to decisions about more aggressive care. It combines case observations with practical notes on when and how to apply remedies, and it discusses the disease’s pathology and the debates around its origins and outcomes. The volume also situates the California epidemic within broader medical thinking of the period, offering context for how clinicians understood symptoms, membranes, and prognosis.
- Learn how practitioners assessed and treated the disease across different stages
- See historical debates about diagnosis, local cures, and when to escalate care
- Read descriptions of membranes, mucous changes, and their clinical implications
- Explore how the author compares local cases to broader epidemics and pathologic findings
Ideal for readers of medical history, 19th‑century epidemiology, and antiquarian clinical writings seeking context on early diphtheritis.