Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-15

I
Taken o Have it Pure and Prop
erly Branded.
There are some indications that the
outbreak Of d;ph;heria in this city, to
which attention has been called by the
Register once or twice lately. has reach
ed its he.glt, and that the immediate
future viii snow q falling off in the
number of cases.
During The month of November there
were about fifteen cases of d.phtheria
and diphtheretic Group reported to
Health Omcer Jepson, and Of this num-
Der there were eleven deaths-a very
high ratio of fatalities.
During the first week Of December
there were eight or ten additional cases,
but the past few days has only brought
three or four 10 notice, and there is a
hope that the disease Will be checked.
Wheeling physicians do not appear TO
have resOrted to the use of antitoXin
10 any great extent, OF IaJe, ana an en-
quiry as 10 the reason, made to lead
.pg physician, brought the answer that
there was very considerable local
d0uOl as to its efficacy, or rather whetn-
er or not it was not better 70 fight the
disease in The Old way than TO resort to
the new specific and run the risk Of its
introducing INTO the patients system
other disorders and arrangements near
~ or quite as bad as the malady sought
to be cured. Asked TO be explicit upon
this point, he replied that in many cas-
es the use Of 2nt.tOX;n resulted in seri-
Gus kidney disorders, the formation Of
large quantities OF albUmen in the urine,
and in eruptions and other skin d.seas-
Is of q serious nature. For these rea-
sons, and possibly also from the diff
Guilty Ct procuring thoroughly reliable
antitoxin or the spur of the moment,
when IL is wanted, It's use appears 70
have fallen off here very decidedly.
In other cities, however, and notably
in New York, the leading physicians
appear TO De more and more enthusiast
y tic over the specific. and no mention is
made in the public prints Of bad results
( following It's use. Dr.. Herman NJ.
B;ggs. director of the meteorological
laboratories at the Willard Park Hospi-
tai. shows great enthusiasm for the
remedy in a recent interview, and shows
some interesting figures for comparison
as between the year ending in NOvem-
Der. 1894. when diphtheria was treated
by the old plan, and the year ending
November, 1895. under the antitoxin
treatment A summary Of these figures
shows:
In 1894. treatment began on the first
or second day; number Of cases, 49;
mortality. 1861: in 1895 number of cas-
es, los; mortality. 1909.
Third day, 1894 number of cases, 100;
mortality. 3361. 1895, number of cases,
| 1870: mortality, 2519.
Fourth day and later, 1894 number Of
cases. 306: mortality, $50; in 1895, num-
Der Of cases, 800; mortality, 1913.
THE use Of anttOxin was commenced
in this city on Oct Z, 1894" SAID Dr..
Biggs. The total number Of diphthe-
ria cases in 1S93-94 was S,97S, resulting
! in 3.O73 deaths. while in 1S94-95, up TO
| October 6. there were 1919 cases. but
with the use of antitOx,n, the deaths
registered were reduced to 2.125. The
| average fatality in the former year was
/ 1923. while during the last year ending
| in October, it was only 22.66.
In our hospital, the Willard Parker,
we only receive a very small per cent. Of
| diphtheria cases IN this city continued
/ Dr.. B:ggs. las you will see that out of
! 9.S79 cases during the past year only
/ 593 were treated at the hospital, and by
/ far the greater number were OF
! three. four or more days duration at
| the time Of 3dmiJtance. A comparison
| between the results of Paris and this
! city is scarcely fair one he added,
/ "aS the antitOXin treatment is almost
/ universal in Paris. while it is not used
| so frequently in this city, although l
! can safely say 10 is introduced in large
| proportion Of the cases occurring here. y
In speaking of the preparations of
| antitoxin made by the New York health
/ department. DR.. B.ggs said that each
/ vial was stamped with the number Of
/ antitOXin units which ,t contained. ms
| shows the protective and curative value
] of the contents Many Of the prepare
/ tons. particularly i'm England. are put
/ out without any such statement.
Where there IS no label" sad the
1 doctor. "there is always a chance of a
| mistake being made. Our grades are
/ 500. / LOCO and 1900 units. So you see
that the last named grade IS just $50
per cent. stronger Jhas the first. 1t
| came TO cur notice nearly year ago,
that inferior serum was being sold here,
and we had a section added to the sani-
tary code. prohibiting the sale of any
preparation Of diphther.a antiJoXin in
/ this city. unless the receptacle contain
| ing ii bears a label on which IS printed
| the name and address of the producer,
and inclose6 with il, in sealed pack
age. the date Of production and the val
ne OF she contents as measured by some
generally recognized standard.
This" said the doctor, in conclusion,
els safeguard against any inferior Sc
rum being used IN this city. and there
fore urecludes the possibility OF any IN
| fortunate mistakes.
In Germany 6.626 eases Of d!phtheria
have been treated by serum tnocula-
ton. AGO Of them in hospitals. accord
ing TO a report Of the Government
/ medical department. OF these, 500 pei
| cent. recovered. 12.9 per cent. died. and
| the rest were still under treatment