Chicago, Oct. 10, 1899.
To the Editor:
—Intubation of the larynx in diphtheritic stenosis before antitoxin came into such general use, was much more common than now. Indeed, antitoxin seems to have very largely done away with the necessity for intubation.It is my firm conviction that: 1, when antitoxin is used early, the larynx will not become involved nearly as often as without it; 2, when the disease commences primarily in the larynx, it is sometimes arrested, requiring no surgical interference; and 3, when intubation is necessary, recoveries are more frequent than before antitoxin days.My experience in the surgical treatment of diphtheritic laryngitis is limited to 234 cases, the tube having been inserted in the last case twenty-four hours ago, and the patient is still wearing the tube, having a good prospect of recovery. All occurred in private practice. Tracheotomy was done in 30 of these, with a