United States. Public Health Service

“ The patient may feel rather ill.
Or the disease may be like a very severe sore throat, with small or large gray or white patches. Not only the tonsils but also the uvula, the small rounded end of the palate which hangs down between the tonsils, may have on it white or gray patches. (If there is a membrane on the uvula, the disease is almost certainly diphtheria.) With such a throat the person feels very sick. Not only does the throat hurt, but there are usually aches in the back of the neck and in the muscles generally. The glands in the neck may be quite large and feel painful when touched. ”

“ The presence of adenoids should be suspected if the child habitually sleeps with open mouth, snores a great deal, or has frequent strangling coughing spells. Sleeping with open mouth is one of the first signs and should therefore lead at once to a careful examination by a physician. Sometimes difficulty in hearing is one of the early symptoms. Therefore, in all cases of ear trouble an examination should be made for adenoids. ”

“ Besides this, care should be taken that the germs are not carried to others by the use of eating utensils, such as cups, glasses, spoons, forks, or plates. All of these should be sterilized with boiling water after each meal.
ANTITOXIN TREATMENT.
Depending on the way it is treated, diphtheria is one of the least dangerous or one of the most dangerous diseases. It is one of the least dangerous when promptly treated with antitoxin; it is one of the most [8] dangerous when the antitoxin treatment is not given, or is delayed or insufficient. ”