Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-02
STATE HOUSE.
Diphtheria Bulletin By
Board Of Health.
2O26 Automobiles Now Regis
tered In Maine.
Railroad Commits sloners Order Two
Hearings on Petitions. Il
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and, Council,
Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 10 A. M.

= r.. -
special diphtheria number of the
Pulletin Of the Switchboard of Health
has been issued and Is now being sent
out from the office of. the secretary Of
the board. The bulletin takes up the
di sease together with it's prevention
land restriction, and contains large
*4mount of valuable information and
advice relating to the subject Among
&the points emphasized In the bulletin
4are the following:
Z Zone local condition present in most
Ceases is the formation of the false
membrane" everything the affected
surfaces, but this may be slight in ex-
tent, or even entirely absent or IN
visible in some cases of true
y t1tphtheria, even in cases ending
!. fatally. Through the aid of the
modem Laboratory methods it is found
that Hiany eases apparently of only
simple Ssoref Throat, or Inflammation of
! the tonsils, are really diphtheria, and
especially dangerous to the public for
the reassn that their illness is too
slight, toz;confine them to the house.
. When diphtheria is prevalent every
{ case ofssore throat IL possible source
y OF danger, and every such case in
! person who has been exposed to
diphtheria infection should be re-
garded as a probable source of DANCE.
-Diphtheria in children sometimes as
sumes the form of snuffles. or other
acute obstructive affections of the
nostrils.
The. essential cause is the specific
4 GERM the bacillus of diphtheria.
gtthout the presence of this there can
Z be no diphtheira.
So In most cases of diphtheria the in
1 lection 0he GERM disappears from
the throat in short time after re-
} covery, but in few cases the process
{ Of growth and multiplication of infec-
ton does not cease 50 soon, but is
prolonged some weeks, or. in ex-
ceptional cases, some months.
Children between the ages of 1 and
10 are the most susceptible to infec-
ton, and are more endangered by the
diseasef than are older persons
Childrd particularly, on account of
their greater susceptibility to the
disease, and the greater danger of
their dying II they take It, should
Searefully be protected against ex-
Minute % the infection of diphtheria.
7lts exposed to the infection. If
" fake the disease at all, are likely
haye II In a mild or questionable
I1ffn, or merely to become bacillus
CARRIERS, thus endangering others, even
without having any distinct symptoms
: Of the disease themselves
The infection of diphtheria Is COM
monty transmitted by direcr exposure
to persons sick with the disease, or to
persons who have diphtheria in some
of itS mild forms which appear to be
tonsiltis or only common sOie
throat The disease may be COM
municated by infected articles
Neither soil, nor sewerage nor the
want of it, nor the character Of the
water supply has been shown to have
any influence upon the prevalence of
diphtheria. Any antiquated notions
about these matters only serve to
obscure the real danger. namely: the
transmission Of infection from person
to person-the danger Of exchanging
the bacterial flora of the nose and
mouth as one puts it. But the social
conditions and usagcs among the poor
are more favorable to the spread of
Infection than are those among the
Ntll-tb-UD ana the eHoFt IOT
ness (sanitary surroundings has, in
many ways. its ample compensation.
When used early and in sufficient
dosage (2.000 to 5000 units or even
more). antitoxin will, with almost
absolute certainty. quickly control real
dphtheria. With every days delay
In using it. there will be a rapidly in
creasing number of cases which can
not be saved. The state Board of
Health strongly advises parents not to
hesitate a moment when the attending
physician advises the use of antitoxin.
Used in smaller doses $500 units or
more) its protective power, lasting
three or four weeks, is so great that
1t is often advisable to use it for the
protection of exposed PERSONS par
ucularly nurses and others who are
greatly and continuously exposed.
The use of anttoxin does not shorten
the stay of the infection in the throat.
No child in n poor family unable to
pay for antitoXin should be allowed to
die for the want of il.
The year has now started on its
eighth month. and although the sum-
mer season il well along toward au-
..Al- -.