J Med Mov 5 (2009): 81-83

Medicine in Film StillsInfectious Diseases: Diphtheria

81© Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca

Severe infectious disease

Action: 1914-1944 (New York) American poster (one sheet)

Technical Details

Title: Mr. SkeffingtonCountry: USAYear: 1945Director: Vincent ShermanMusic: Franz WaxmanPhotography: Ernest HallerFilm editor: Ralph DawsonScreenwriter: Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein,based on the novel Mr. Skeffington (1940) by Elizabethvon Arnim.Cast: Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Walter Abel, GeorgeCoulouris, Richard Waring, Marjorie Riordan, RobertShayne, John Alexander, Jerome Cowan, JohnnyMitchell, Dorothy Peterson, Peter Whitney and BillKennedy.Color: Black and whiteRuntime: 145 minutesGenre : Drama, RomanceProducers: Warner Bros Pictures Synopsis: In order to save her brother from embezz-lement, the attractive and much desired Fanny Trellismarries a man who does not want, time and diphthe-ria withered her beauty.Awards: Nominated for the Oscar (1944) for BestActress in a Leading Role (Bette Davi)s and BestActor in a Supporting Role (Claude Rains).http://spanish.imdb.com/title/tt0037094

82© Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca

J Med Mov 5 (2009): 81-83

The diagnosis of diphtheria is clinical, based on the presence of pseudomembranes in upper airways

Profound prostration (diphtheria toxin)

83© Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca

J Med Mov 5 (2009): 81-83

Treatment: Airway maintenance

Treatment: Diphtheria antitoxin

José Elías García Sánchez1, Enrique García Sánchez1, María Lucila Merino Marcos2

1Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Salud Pública y Microbiología Médica. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Salamanca (Spain).2Departamento de Pediatría del Hospital Universitario de Salamanca (Spain).Correspondence: José Elías García Sánchez. Facultad de Medicina. Avda. Alfonso X El Sabio s/n. 37007 Salamanca (Spain).e-mail: joegas@usal.es