Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-19
DIPHTHERIA LOSES
hyCHOF ITS HORROR
II Modern Methods Are Promptly and
Carefully Employed, Says Georg a
State Beard of Health.

Atlanta, (SpeciaD -While the
diphtheria of today and that of TWEEN
ty years ago are two very different
propositions, says the Georgia State
Board of Health in a current bulletin,
it must be remembered that the eff
ficiency of modern methods in reduc
ing It's death rate and in preventing
It's spread, depend upon promplneas
and care as To ueLaIl ia tner appll-
cation
Prompt diagnosis and speedy use OF
dipntneretIc anuJo4In Wnere the lnICc-
uon Is found, ale the material FACTORS
in reducing the death rate; iso.ation
OF patients and disIntecuon of every
thing coming from their rooms, are
equally important factors in prevent
ing its spread. But these factors,
particularly the antitoXin, have taken
dipJhtheria out of the chamber OF
horrible diseases, not only lessening
the probability of contagion, but re
ducing the number OF deaths flom it,
from 45 to so down to to 10 in ev-
cry 100 cases. Where diagnosis is
prompt and the ant.toxin is admins
tered before the disease gains any
Roadway, the mortality is practically
eliminated.
Diphtheria is a germ disease. The
germs attack the nose and throat and
form a membrane. They rarely at
tack any other part of the body.
Where the germs attack the tonsils,
it is known simply as dipththeria;
where the membrane forms in the
nostrils, it is nasal diphtheria; when
it forms in the windpipe it is mem
branous Group, the dreaded and most
dangerous form because it cuts off
air from the lungs The germs, ap-
pearing in some portion of the nose
or throat and forming membrane, give
off poison that soon finds its way
through the system. The germs null
tiply III the throat very rapidly; mill
ions of them may be formed in a few
hours.
Diphtheria manifests itself within
three or four days after the patient
has been exposed to the disease. The
patient complains of sore throat which
grows worse. then fever appears
Sometimes sickness at the stomach
and vomiting are among the first
symptoms, and in membranous Group
the first symptom may be hoarse
harsh cough or actual and prolonged
difficulty in breathing. These symp-
toms should be carefully and closely
watched; when there is diphtheria in
the neighborhood, even a slight sore
throat should be carefully examined,
for it may be diphtheretic. The only
safe plan is to consult physician at
once, for often an hours delay in
'creases the danger, particularly from
membranous Group.
Mild cases are equally dangerous
when it comes to spreading the infec-
ton. Accurate diagnosis is import
ant, anG modern methods-the use of
the sterilized throat swab from which
a culture Is produced-make this cas-
lily possible. The prompt isolation of
the infected patient should follow
in a sunny pleasant room, if possible
and only the nurse and attending
physician permitted to enter
Prompt injection of the antitoxin is
essential. This antitoxin is made
from the serum from a horse into
which diphtheria poison has been in
jected. and it counteracts the poison
In the human system.
The State Board of Health manu-
features this antitoxin and distrib-
utes it free of cost for use by recog
nized physicians. Your physician will
know how to get it when it is needed
The isolation of the patient must
be continued until all germs have dis
appeared from the throat Every arti-
Gle taken from the room during i'll
ness must be thoroughly disinfected
by methods indicated by the physi-
clan, and the room Itself must be
carefully disinfected when the pa
tents recovery is compete.
In practically all cases where the
diphtheria antitoXin is gwen the first
day, the patients recover. Where
it is not given until the second day,
about five in 100 die. DELAYED until
the third day, about 25 in 100 die.
G wen promptly, antitoXin saves near
ly every case: given late, it saves
many, but not all. But having reduc-
ed the mortality from so per cent to
less than 10 per cent, it stands to rea-
son that anyone who fails to admin.
lister antitoxin in cases of diphtheria
is throwing away the patients
chances of recovery.
Diphtheria Is pr ncipally a disease
of childhood, although it may and Of
ten does appear in adults; age con-
stitutes no protection. In 14,69S
cases reported by Ellington in New
York. 1,214 occurred in children I'M
der one year of age, and 1922 in chill
dren of one to FIVE years of age.
Diphtheria is extremely contagious
and may be conveyed n various
ways Fly contact with person suf-
fering from it; by contact with per-
son who has been exposed to 1t but
who has not developed it, by con-
tact with some article which has been
in contact with or proximity TO
person with the disease, or by drink
ing or eating something that has been
n'ected with the germs No precau
ton should be overlooked when there
is diphtheria in the neighborhood.
Use Of the antitoxin is the only rea-
sonablv sure cure for diphtheria; all
other treatment is. pr5ct cally, so
much energy wasted Considering the
known "esults from its use. its mate
rial reduction n wortalitv and the
fact that It's administration in small