1877-1967

Hungarian physician who is best known for his contributions to the battle against diphtheria, a childhood disease that killed thousands. The Schick test, which was developed in 1913, reveals susceptibility to diphtheria, which is caused by a toxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Klebs-Loeffler bacillus). Injections of toxin-antitoxin (or, later, toxoids) produced immunity; by using the Schick test, physicians could avoid subjecting patients to unnecessary treatment with antitoxins.