New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-24
EPIDEMICS OF DIPHTHERIA.

From several cities in the eastern part Of the
country the prevalence Of diphtheria TO an
alarming extent has been reported in the last
fortnight The physicians Of the Eimira Re
formatory have had desperate fight with the
disease in that institution. In Mount vernon
" y the Mayor has deemed ii wise TO close
two schools temporarily. TO prevent contagion.
New-Brunswick, Montclair and other New-Jer'
sev towns have had the propriety of similar
action for the same reason under consideration.
Though the authorities of Baltimore have not
followed suit, the parents Of many children
/ there have deemed il prudent TO keep the latter
/ At home for the present. AS a further safe
! guard against trouble number of public we'd
dings have been abandoned in fashionable
quarter Of the Monumental City.
Precautions Of this kind are highly commend
able Diphthera is one of the most terrible or
clildren's diseases. 1t often terminates fatally,
If il is not properly treated, and even recovery
is frequently attended with partial paralysis,
disturbance Of the Kidneys and other serious
/ consequences. Moreover ii is unquestionab!y
! transmissible from one person 20 another win
marked facility, and occasionally In n mghly
mysterious manner. Milk has been the vehicle
of the germs. though such an occurrence is rare.
In one Of the New-Jersey schools last winter
there was reason to think that several children
lead pencils previously handled by infected
pupils, both sets Of youngsters having sucked the
points thereof. Though there is danger of fool
ish manic regarding the possible spread Of any
such nalady, il IS far more sensible 10 err in
that fashion than TO be TOO negligent. Many
cold has been permitted TO develop into some
thing far more serious through failure 10 sum-
mon physician. and physicians are not always
as rigid about ordering domestic quarantine as
they might be- Under such circumstances II is
incumbent on local authorities TO exercise spe-
cial watchfulness over public schools at this
time OF year, and 10 deal energetically with the
first few cases of diphtheria that are discoV-
cred.
From the wording Of dispatch from Baltimore
il seems probable that number Of educated
eople there still cherish the old notion that low
ground damp cellars and sewer gas are direct
causes Of this disease. Before il was known
that dipbtberia was due TO the activity OF par
ticular species Of bacillus, that view was rea-
sonabe. The most that the medical profession
coneede to-day is that such unwholesome in
huences may reduce a childs vitality, and thus
render if more susceptible than otherwise TO
sickness. If q few microbes Of the right kind
get into a child's throat the best sanitation, in
the old sense Of the term. viii afford no more
protection than it does against yellow fever.
The best way 10 insure safety is TO keep away
from places where there are germs
An added precaution OF much value is inOcu-
iation with the antitoxin Of diphtheria. That
this serum has a preventive as well as cura-
tive potency is hardly open TO doubt Whether
the effect is as lasting as that Of vaccination
against smallpox has not been fully determined
but the protective influence Of incubation where
no symptoms have appeared has been repeat
edly demonstrated. Here is a single instance:
During the year 1897 81. Johnsbury, VT, had
about ninety cases Of diphtheria. all but dozen
OF them occurring In the autumn and early
winter. Through the courtesy OF the New
York Health Board, enough serum was sent to
the authorities in st. Johnsbury TO inoculate
number OF school children. From the parents
Of 2l5 consent was obtained by means Of cir
cular Each received a single dose. Up TO the
middle Of the following January not one OF them
showed diphtheritc symptoms while several
Others who had not been thus safeguarded
were attacked. This is an example that might
be initiated with profit in every town in the