Throat swab used to diagnose diphtheria

Made:: 1901-1930 in England

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Throat swab, cotton wool on metal rod, in glass tube, in wooden case, supplied by Kent County Council, early 20th century, for diphtheria diagnosis

Diphtheria is a potentially deadly contagious infection which especially affects children. In 1883, German bacteriologist Edwin Klebs (1834–1913) discovered the bacterium which causes diphtheria. This was then isolated the following year by fellow researcher Friedrich Loeffler (1852–1915), which meant that the presence of bacteria could be tested for and used to diagnose infection.

This throat swab was supplied by Kent County Council who would have supplied them to clinics and doctors’ surgeries to help monitor and check the spread of the disease. Diphtheria has been a notifiable disease since 1889, which means all cases must be reported for government statistics. Fortunately, diphtheria is now rare in the United Kingdom because of routine childhood vaccination.

Details

Category:: Clinical Diagnosis

Collection:: Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection

Object Number:: A606027

Materials:: wood, glass, cotton wool, metal, cork, brass and paper

Measurements:: Case: 24 mm x 148 mm x 24 mm, .0391 kg
swab: 142 mm 12 mm,

type:: throat swab

credit:: Loan, Wellcome Trust

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Parts

Wooden case for throat swab

Wooden case for swab. Label printed with the following text: 'Kent County Council. Diphtheria Diagnosis Outfit. The content of the enclosed tube have been sterilised'. Supplied by Kent County Council, early 20th century, for diphtheria diagnosis

This is the wooden case for a throat swab supplied by Kent County Council who would have supplied them to clinics and doctors’ surgeries to help monitor and check the spread of the disease. The case is pictured here alongside the swab and glass tube.

Materials:: wood (unidentified) and metal (unknown)

Object Number:: A606027/1

type:: throat swab

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass tube from throat swab used to diagnose diphtheria

Glass tube. Usually contains throat swab, cotton wool on metal rod, in, in wooden case, supplied by Kent County Council, early 20th century, for diphtheria diagnosis

This is the glass tube for a throat swab supplied by Kent County Council who would have supplied them to clinics and doctors’ surgeries to help monitor and check the spread of the disease. The tube is pictured here alongside the swab and case.

Materials:: glass

Object Number:: A606027/2

type:: throat swab

Throat swab used to diagnose diphtheria

Throat swab, cotton wool on metal rod, in glass tube, in wooden case, supplied by Kent County Council, early 20th century, for diphtheria diagnosis

This is a throat swab supplied by Kent County Council who would have supplied them to clinics and doctors’ surgeries to help monitor and check the spread of the disease. The swab is pictured here alongside the glass tube that would have protected the sample, and the wooden case.