During the past three months there has been, and still continues, in Chicago an epidemic of sore throat that is unusually severe and characterized by complications strikingly different from those of other years. That it is generally prevalent throughout the city is attested by numerous physicians.
A streptococcus presenting certain peculiar characteristics is found in practically all cases. A number of Cases have terminated fatally. In view of these facts, it is thought wise to make a brief preliminary statement at this time concerning certain clinical and bacteriologic features of the disease.
The attack usually begins suddenly with or without a chill. The fever, the muscular pains, the prostration and the constitutional symptoms are out of all proportion to what one would expect from the amount of local involvement. The pulse is relatively slow. The leukocytes are only moderately increased. The throat presents a diffuse redness; there is much secretion