Scranton Wochenblatt. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1865-1918, 1910-03-31

do the same today among the poor in
Pennsylvania were 1t not for the anti
toxin which the state provides free.
That large numbers of unprotected
children have died most shocking
deaths in the past for the sole reason
that their parents were too poor to
afford them anti-toxin, is a melancholy
reflection, but these things will not
hapren in the future. In every corner
of Pennsylvania, usually at well known
drug stores, there are now stations for
the free distribution of anti-toxin,
numbering $50. Whenever any poor
mans child falls i'll with diphtheria
his physician. by making out a proper
application. can secure free all the
anti-toXin he needs to effect a cure.
Since October, 1905. the Health De-
partment has in this way distributed
49,443 packages of anti-toxin. It has
treated 1929 sick people, mostly chill
dren, who. but for the states inter
vention, would have been neglected. In
the old days about 10000 of these chill
dren would have died; as matter of
fact, only 1725 died. Nearly all those
who died were children who did not
receive the anti-toxin until the late
stages of the disease. The detailed
statistics of the department show that
the earlier the sick child receives the
antl-toxin. the greater his chances of
recovery. These facts should empha.
ella AZ cefp fr oil
not only of anti-toxin treatment, but
of this treatment at the earliest pos
sible time. The department has also
thoroughly tested the powers of anti
toxin as an immunizing agent. Dlph-
iberia, as every one knows, is one of
the most virulently contagious dis
eases. 1t travels like lightning from
the sick to the we'll In the crowded
homes Of the poor, many Of them ideal
culture tubes for the growth of the
microbes, its virulence is especially
marked. The department in three
years has immunized with antitoxin
1887 persons, nearly all children,
who had been exposed to the disease.
OF these only 251 acquired it-a little
more than one per cent. The State
Department of Health's free distribu-
tion of antitoxin to the poor, there
fore. has saved over 5000 lives at an
average cost of seven dollars each and
prevented contagion In several thou
sands of cases at on average cost of
two dollars.
Battle Against tuberculosis.
In its attitude towards the great
problem OF tuberculosis, the state gov
eminent also shows this keen sense
of responsibility for the safety of the
people. The department of health re-
galds all the tuberculosis poor as in
large sense the wards of the state. It's
efforts, in the first place. are to pre-
vent them from falling victims to this
insidious disease, and in the second.
to assist materially in curing those
who have become infected.
The death rate from tuberculosis in
this state has fallen from 134 to 120
per one thousand of population in
four years. This means a saving of
1000 lives annually.
In the matter of tuberculosis, how
over. the death rate tells only a small
part of the story. Any work in i'm
proving conditions must be funda-
mental. and 1t will necessarily take
many years before extensive results
are obtained. What the department
has done has been to lay the founda-
ton of comprehensive attack. From
its laboratory Investigations of the
tubercle bacillus to its especially
equipped sanatoria, there is no as
pect of the disease that 1t does not
study and combat. It aims to enter
at every stage into the life OF the tu-
berculous poor. To many citizens the
state government is more or less of
an indefinite idea; they seldom come
into contact with II as a living. acting
entity; il you are once stricken with
tuberculosis. however, especially If you
are poor. the commonwealth of Penn
sylvania becomes physically manifest
in your daily lives. In the medical in
spection. in the physician and in the
nurses the state ceases to be an eco
nomic abstraction and becomes a kind
helping, fostering personality
The Dispensaries.
II you are stricken down and cannot
afford proper medical attendance,
there Is always near at hand free tu
berculosis dispensary. established for
precisely cases OF this kind. There are
many thousands OF patients in the
state who are still able to be about
and to follow the daily routine, per
haps even to support their families!
| The ia tuberculosis dispensaries are
of especial assistance to this class
The dispensary physicians have treat
ed 21,227 patients and actually cured
7I2. while the condition of 2649 has sc
greatly improved that the arrest OF
| the disease is almost assured. Here
the sick man or woman is received by
a professional nurse, who makes a
complete first-hand investigation OF
H. aorn nxr ha nattapt