1826

Pierre Bretonneau groups cases of angina maligna and cases from 1818, 1825, and 1826 epidemics of “malignant sore throat” as diphthérite, identified by characteristic pseudomembrane in pharynx, larynx, or both; croup (usually combined with malignant sore throat in early 19th century) and diphtheria held to be one and the same (Hammonds, 19). He called it diphthérite, from the Greek word for “leather” or “hide,” which described the pseudomembrane in the throat.