New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05
THE VIRTUES or ANTITOXIN.

Another impressive and convincing tribute
TO the value of the antitOxin serum treatment
for diphtheria comes to hand. 1t Is contained
In the report OF the Pedatric Society, OF which
we publish a comprehensive abstract on an
other page OF this mornings paper This docu-
ment possesses features and qualities whicn
make 1t well.nigh unique, and which invest IT,
both to the professional and to the lay mind,
with unusual Importance. The testimony IT
contains was not furnished by any limited
coterie Of physicians in any particular region
or country but by more than six hundred, scat
tered throughout the United States and Canada.
1t was not drawn from hospitals, which deal
with few cases Of diphtheria and those largely
complicated with other disorders, but from
private practice where the overwhelming bulk
OF cases are to be found. The returns, more
over have been subjected to careful revision.
Reports Of 3GoS cases were gathered by the
society OF these pa cases were rejected be-
cause evidence was not conclusive that the
trouble was really diphtberia. These rejected
cases were, however, all recoveries All the
doubtful cases which terminated fatally were
retained in the statistics. The report also in
cludes 042 Health Board cases in New-York and
1.46S in Chicago
doubted and often, especially in the Health
Board cases, particularly severe diphthera.
Among these there were 713 deaths, giving a
death rate Of 1913 per cent. II we exclude. as
we properly may. 21S cases In which treatment
had been delayed so long that the patients were
already evidently morbund the ratio Is dimin-
shed to S.S per cent. And II we take into reck-
oning only those cases In which the serum was
J.x,o hat
when 1t should he applied to make sure Of Its
benefts-wc have 4.1:0 cases with 303 deaths,
n death rate OF 73 per cent A still better
showing IL. Of course made In the cases treated
Oh the first day. amply justifyng DR.. Behring's
prophecy that the death rate therein would be
reduced to not more than per cent. The three
days limit Is probably however, the most rea
sonabe and practical one. and the figures cited
warrant the saying that the antitoxin serum.
where 1t has had a fair chance, has reduced
the diphtheria death rate to between and
per CEN. When it Is considered that hitherto
dlphtheria has been one Of the most deadly OF
all diseases. it may we'll be doubted If a greater
therapeutic triumph has been scored in this
generation.
Among the practical lessons to be derived
from this report are several which appeal both
to the lnyman and TO the professional pract-
toner. One Is. OF course, the desirablty Of the
widest possible use Of the remedy; for the
disease prevails everywhere and the remedy Is
everywhere effective. Another Is the impera-
tive need Of an ample supply Of the serum which
shall be absolutely pure and OF the highest
standard strength. A third Is the need Of hav-
Ing the remedy applied at the earliest possible
moment. 1t may be effective II applied on the
fifth or the seventh or the tenth day. 1t Is
never too late for 1t to be worth trying. But
the probability of benefit decreases In appalling
ratio as time elapses after the third day. The
death rate in cases treated in the first three
days Is 73 per cent; In those treated after the
third day it Is - per cent. These facts should
be taken seriously to heart and acted upon
promptly and practically. The serum treat
ment has passed beyond the experimental
stage Its virtue Is established II now re-
mains to make that virtue available for all who
are or who may he menaced by the disease.