The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-09
NOT MUCH Is IN SIGHT
There Is but Little Anti TOXll6 In
Montana NV.
LED THE WAY
First Trial of the Great Remedy
Made In the West Was Con-
Quoted In This City-FaCts
Concerning II.

for dIphtheria and membraneous Group,
il is interesting and gratifying to note
that the first patient treated with anti
toxIne in the West was an Anaconda boy,
who was brought from deaths door by the
use of the medicine and is now healthy
lad.
1t was last summer when the medical
journals began to discuss the new cure
and in October Doctors Mckenzie and
Spelman of this city decided to send Tor
some, IN order to test it's efficiency should
an opportunity present itself. There was
at that time none of the serum in this
country, the nearest source of supply
being London. Before the doctors could
carry out their plans, a case of diphtheria
developed in this city, the patient being
little Willie Huffman, the S-year-old son
Of Fritz Huffman.
kilograms were at once sent to Balti-
more and New York, where physicians
had been experimenting with the anti
toxine, but the supply in these cities had
been exhausted and the local doctors
could not obtain any from any part of the
East. In this emergency DR.. Adams of
Great Falls came to their rescue and for
warded to them vial of the precious
fluid which he had procured from Europe.
This was the first ani-toxine used in the
West. 1t reached Anaconda on the even
ing Of Nov. 20, when it seemed that the
little patient was beyond recovery. At 8
o'clock that evening DIR. Mckenzie in
jected quantity of the serum into the
lad and in two hours the effect was notice
able. The improvement was uniform and
in two days the boy was eating and sleep
ing regularly.
Subsequently q younger sister of the
4 \
and died. The trouble in her case was
not that the anti-toxine was not effective,
but that the physicians had not a sufIl-
cient quantity to complete the cure. This
incident has since been paralleled in va
rious cities, patients dying because none
of the anti-toxine could be secured.
In all Montana, at present, there is less
than enough to treat 20 cases. In Helena
there is none; in Butte the supply is 80
cubic centimeters-two cubic centimeters
is the amount required for one case; in
Anaconda there is none, the last having
been taken to Hamilton last week by
William Toole; i'll Great Falls it is said
there Is enough to treat one case; in Mis-
soula DR.. Buckley of tho Northern Pacific
hospital has limited supply.
Should an epidemic of dphtheria break
out the nearest point where any of the
anti-toxine could be obtained would be
New York. The necessary delay in ship
ping might be fatal. And, if it were not,
the serum, when obtained, might be of an
inferior quality - perhaps absolutely
worthless-for there have been numerous
fraudulent limitations placed upon the
:. market since the fame of the cure has
spread abroad. The health authorities In
the east are using every precaution posi-
BILE to prevent spurious articles from be-
ing sold, and all laboratories where the
serum is prepared are under the surveil-
lance of health officers.
In New York, Boston and New Haven
experts are now engaged in the prepare
ton of the anti-toXine. but it will be four
months before the bacilli can be devel-
oped and the serum made ready for the
market. In the meantime the only anti
toxine that is good must be obtained from
England or Germany. The cost of the
serum is now 50 per vial, containing a
quantity for the treatment of q single
case. The efforts of eastern health boards
to lower the price will undoubtedly be sue
cessful in time, but until the American
product is placed upon the market great
caution must be employed in securing the
serum. The local supply mentioned
above is known to be pure.
The following report made to the New
York health department is interesting in
this connection:
The great practical importance of the new
anti-toxine treatment for diphtheria. not only in
controlling, but in curing the disease, has ere
and urgent that the occasional small supplies
which can be obtained from tho European
laboratories are wholly inadequate. IL is there
fore imperative that without unnecessary de-
lay the preparation of the new remedy should
be generally undertaken in tins country. The
efficiency of the remedy and the security of
those TO whom 1t is administered from any pos
sibe danger in its use depends in the most in
innate way upon the Skill and reliability of those
engaged in its manufacture. Careful and deli
cate tests are required at every stage of its pre-
paration.
when it is finished, be determined in the most
exact way by those in command of the neces-
sary special skill and experience 1t is one of
the distinguishing characters of this remedial
agent that its greatest efficiency is obtained only
when it is administered in the early stages OF
the disease, and then in doses possessing
strength absolutely to be replied upon should
the material used be for any reason deficient in
healing power, through error careessness or
fraud in its preparation, time may be lost so
precious TO the patient that 1t may involve his
life.
The anti-toxne serum, when ready for use, is
yellowish fluid without cspec ally distinguish
ing or characterlZing appearance, to the eye re-
sembling the clear yellowish fluid which sepa-
rates from blood when it clols, from which it
can be distinguished only by exact tests OF its
curative and protective value on animals
The new remedy VIII be. at the best. rather
costly, on account Of the time required for its
preparation-always many weeks at least-the
cost OF material and animals, and OF expert
services.
At resent the market prlcs Of the anti-toxine
some time To come, on account OF its scarcity
and the great demand for II.
IL follows, from what has been said, that Il is
OF the utmost importance 10 those who use this
remedy that there should be some reliable guar
antee for every preparation placed upon the
market that il has been prepared By competent
persons, and that in every case it possesses the
requisite purity and power.
Unless some security is afforded. 1. would be
quite easy for INSCRIPTIONS persons willing to
commit such a crime 10 place in the marNet
small bottles OF yelowish fluid labeled "Dipu-
liberia Anti-TOXine. containing an Insufficient
amount OF the healing agent. or even none at
all. and. for time. az least profit by tile extra
ordinary demand for il, perhaps az tile cost Of
life. and az the risk OF discrediting a most 10.
tent and benefcent remedy.
That tins Is not a merely fanclcd and only
possible menace 10 the welfare OF those stricken
with this dreaded disease is shown by the fae-
that IN he city Of New York several d.fFprept
preparations OF alleged diphtheria antI-toyine
said 10 have been prepared in this country and
wholly. so far IS We can learn. without proper
guarantee OF efficiency have been furnished
and used for the treatment Of dIpltheria one