For my views in regard to the use of mercury in diphtheria I am indebted to the publication in Squibb's Ephemeris of a letter from the late Dr. Reiter, of Pittsburgh, Pa. Prior to 1883 I had successfully tracheotomized two cases of laryngeal diphtheria, but only to see both patients die. The first survived the operation three days, but the second only two hours—death ensuing from a collapse of the membrane below the opening in the trachea.
On April 26, 1883, I was called to visit J. C. C, æt. 6, one of a family of seven as fine, healthy children as I have ever known. He had decided fever with diffused redness of the whole fauces. Next morning dirty-yellow looking patches were to be seen upon either tonsil. On the 29th, at 9 A.M., this exudation had developed into a thick yellowish-white substance presenting the appearance of a fried