First Mention Pertussis, 1913

(NYTimes) Whooping cough has been a well-known disease for hundreds of years, and the term “pertussis” has been in use since the 18th century. Its symptoms are vivid: severe coughing spells ending with a whooping gasp for breath and a face that turns red or purple, often followed by vomiting and then a return to feeling fine until the next episode. But until the early 20th century, no one knew what caused it. Continued