APPENDIX A
We give herewith a table showing the absolute and relative mortality due to diphtheria in Paris from 1872 to 1905, out of a population of 2,500,000 inhabitants:—
Let us divide this mortality due to diphtheria into three groups (in Paris per 100,000 inhabitants):—
A. Before the discovery of serotherapy, from 1872 to 1888.
B. During the period of experimentation with serotherapy, from 1889 to 1894.
C. After the generalisation of serotherapy, from 1895 to 1905.
We have then the following averages:—
| Absolute. | Per 100,000 Inhabitants. | |
| Before serotherapy | 1657 | 80 |
| Intermediary period | 1402 | 58 |
| After serotherapy | 398 | 15 |
And should these figures not seem sufficiently eloquent, let us set them forth in another form:—
| Absolute Mortality. | ||||
| Before the | discovery of | serotherapy, | 1888 | 1729 |
| 1st | year of | serotherapy, | 1889 | 1706 |
| 2nd | " | " | 1890 | 1668 |
| 3rd | " | " | 1891 | 1361 |
| 4th | " | " | 1892 | 1463 |
| 5th | " | " | 1893 | 1266 |
| 6th | " | " | 1894 | 1009 |
At this moment the practice of serotherapy, thanks to Roux, became general in Paris.
1st year, 1895—435.
2nd " 1896—444.
During the next six years there were still hesitations and uncertainties as to the best method to be employed.
The mortality during these six years, 1897-1902—439.
Then the practice was definitely established.
The mortality for the three years, 1903-1905—288.
These figures are so eloquent, so striking, so precise, that it is not possible to misunderstand them. They cannot be ignored; and when once they have been set forth, ignorance is no longer permissible, and it is for that reason we have here given them.
In Berlin and in Vienna, it is the same thing. From 1894 the mortality due to diphtheria has diminished to the extent of 150 per cent.