George H. Van Buren

Geographic Distribution of Deaths from Diphtheria

AN attempt has been made to study the geographic distribution of diphtheria deaths during the last two years (1926 and 1927) based primarily upon records of the industrial policy holders of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. During 1927 there was an increased prevalence of diphtheria which, except for limited areas, appeared to spread quite generally over the United States and Canada. The extent of this increase, so far as the Metropolitan experience is concerned, is indicated in Table I.