Sir.—I graduated from medical school in December 1943. After internship, the Army, and residency, I began full-time solo pediatric practice and have been in it ever since.
In my early days I never heard of not examining a child for epiglottitis if it was suspected, so I did it then and I have done it ever since. Of course, I write because I have never had one bit of trouble. I do not know how many patients with this condition I have seen in my 44 years in practice, but I am sure I have seen my share. Never has one patient given me any more trouble than does a patient undergoing a routine throat examination.
Recently, a patient of mine was admitted through the emergency department late at night. Because of "croupiness," a soft-tissue roentgenogram of the neck was obtained. The report was "some narrowing consistent with epiglottitis." All