The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-11
DIPHTHERIA
MORTALITY
INCREASES
Failure Of tho State TO PrOvld .
Anti. .Toxlns Serum Said 10 Be
Responsible.

According 20 the board of health offi-
cials the deaths from diphtheria have in
creased IN this city this winter In a great
degree and this state OF affairs Is ac-
credited 10 the deplorsble scarcity OF
anti-toxine
During the past ten years 1t has been
the custom. for the state legislature 90
appropriate the sum OF $500 TO be used
In the purchase OF the nati-toxlne serum.
which was given free 20 those unable TO
purchase II. So great has been the de-
mand this year, that Dr. swarts. the
secretary OF the state board OF health,
has announced that the $500, appropria-
tion is now used up. and no more OF the
precious serum can be given out by the
state without further appropriation
In speaking OF the matter. Dr Swarts.
said. The large number of cases during
the past six months has. of course been
causing much alarm, and physicians all
over the state have come 10 me. and sent
people. for supply OF anti-toxine. The
result could be nothing else but that our
supply should give out I think. however.
that I'm a great many cases physicians
have used anu-toXlne much more freely
than was necessary
During the past year or two DR. Nc
cullum OF Boston. who has had wide
experience with diphtheria cases. has ad-
vocated larger doses OF anti-toxine The
result which we have found here then
has been. that as soon as a physician has
an idea that patient is coming down
with diphthsria. he begins TO administer
anti-toXine In large doses and continues
its use. ] think this is wholly unnecessary,
for as soon as the disease Is checked /
think that should be Sufficient However.
diphtheria spreads so rapidly that / sup
pose the physicians wish TO check IL as
soon as they possibly can
ITO do this. however IL IL not necessary
to give three or four times as much anti
toxine as the patient actually needs. II is
THIS that has exhausted our supply. Now
there is a great clamor for anti-toxine,
but am powerless 10 supply the demand
] am in hopes that the legislature will
soon appropriate money for this purpose,
but II will have 10 be considerably larger
than 1t was last year There is no aues-
ton In my mind but what anti-toxine is
a great thing. IL lis practically the only
thing with which we can fight diphtheria
ana II Is very unfortunate that our sup
ply is exhausted. IL has certainly prevent
ed many deaths and checked much dis
ease"
In speaking Of the great number Of
cases of the disease I'm the city. DIR
Charles V. Chapin. the superintendent OF
health I'm the city said. There has been
an unusual amount for the past six
months. Last June and the first part
or July there were many cases The lat
ter part OF July and August Il was re-
duced to about the normal number but
IN september IL again increased alarm
ingly and has continued so up to the
present time. Just now there Is more than
We have had at any time since 1896 a
number OF the cases are mild ones but
the death average from diphtheria was
larger for the year just closed than for
the i've preceding years.
In the matter Of the furnishing OF anti
toxine free of charge the city did this
formerly, but when the state took IL up
this course was abandoned by the city /
The hospitals DO not receive anti-toXine
free Of charge. however. and the amount
which they pay out in this way amounts
TO considerable I'm a year In 1902 / think |
they spent upward OF 5000. and in 1903
he sum WAS still larger Some OF the !
cases handled by them are city cases"
Inquiry at several OF the leading drug
stores revealed the fact that there IS
plenty OF anti-toxine on hand. and the !
supply Is practically unlimited The cost
OF the fluid. however is so great that the /
afflicted OF the poorer classes are unable /
to purchase II and unless the legislature
makes an additional appropriation. those I
who have no money, will be unable to
procure the serum.