New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-02-04
PREPARATION OF DIPHTHERIA ANTIToXIN
FlLrERiNG THE SERUM


er Lederle sounds note Of warning to the
city authorities by informing them that
the impression is too likely to rise that
such common infectious maladies are a.
ways with us and that the city can get
along with the same facilities for con-
trolling these diseases which have been fur
nished in previous years.
This overlooks the fact" said Commits
sioner Lederle, that the city is growing
and that any decrease in the prevalence OF
such diseases is relative rather tnan abso-
Lutte II the staff remains the same from
year TO year the amount Of work which II
has to perform must soon become greater
than can he undertaken with efficiency.
There is a still more vital falacy contained
in this attitude This is the implied as
sumption that the facilities are now and
have been of late years all that the city
should be expected to provide for this pur-
pose. This is far from true. The existence
Of many infectious diseases in their present
numbers is a constant reproach to modern
municipality
In the case of such acute contagious
diseases as measles and scarlet fever, the
Commissioner declared. the efficiency OF
public control depends largely on the
able In London there are $500 beds for the
care of contagious diseases, while In New
York there are approximately only 1900.
There is no doubt" said DIR. Lederle,
that II this city should provide adequate
hospital accommodations and a sufficient
number of inspectors to establish and main
tain the proper quarantine of each case
these diseases would be materially reduced.
I % lipb vi nd
and certain other diseases the work of re-
cent years has shown that they are TO
large extent spread by bacillus carriers.
The discovery OF the individual carriers az
fords the only means by which these
diseases can be- controlled At the present
time the department is hampered in its
work Of combating typhoid by the lack OF
funds to carry on all the meteorological eX-
aminations needed.
I'm recent years substantial appropria-
tons have been granted for the extension
cf public sanitary control of tuberculosis IN
New York City Provisions for normal
growth must be made in this as in every
division. but the city must not remain con-
'tent with the present achievements in this
field. The foremost need in the develop
ment of the citys programme for the eradi-
cation OF the white plague is the provision
OF much greater number of beds in hos
pitals and sanatoria."
One OF the notable achievements In re-
cent years. the Health Commissioner de-
clared was the establishment of the Re-
search Laboratories in 1897 The labora-
tories have supplied all the vaccine and
dphtheria antitoxin and other curative
products which have been distributed by
the department. They have recently been
enabled to take over the routine produc-
ticn and distribution OF the serum for the
cure of cerebro-spinal meningitis. This
serum was manufactured by tn" depart
ment In 1898. but until 1906 its administration
was not very successful. Then Or. Joch-
mann. a distinguished German physician,
discovered that by injecting it into the
lower part of the spine the disease could
be cured. Because of the epidemic IN
Northern Texas at the present time Or.
Abraham Sophar, OF the Research Labora-
tories, is In Dallas supervising the injec-
ton of the serum into persons afflicted with
the disease.
Diphtheria, once a disease OF great NOR
tality, has since the introduction OF the
antltoxn serum become one of the minor
causes of death among infectious dis
eases. as will he seen in the accompany
Ing chart Of the Department of Health
Shortly after the first curative injections
Of this diphtherla antitoxin were made III
1891 and 1925 there were protests from va
roUs sources and warnings against the use
of the serum. IL was said to paralyze anu
disorganize the heart muscle and TO produce
diseases OF the kidneys. From January l.
1885, TO April l. 1871. more than $4,000 cura-
tive and immunizIng injections Ct diphthera
anttoxin had been administered by the de-
psrtment inspectors. In only one case was
death caused by injection, and this was
because Of peculiar lack of developmcnt
OF the heart and arteries. Thus has bets
exploded an antitoxin bugbear.
Among the diseases the deaths from when
are on the increase are pneumonia, heart
disease and cancer. The increase OF heart
disease in New York City Is looked upon
as "a result of too much eating and drink
ing and too little exercise. The autono-
bile Is one of the greatest helps 20 the IN
crease of heart disease. according to Dr'
| Gulfoy. chief statlstician OF the depart
ment, for while IL causes an appetite II docs
not provide the exercise necessary TO dgas'
much food. 1t is therefore also a con-
tributory cause for the increase of cancer
I'VE do not use our. legs enough nova
DAYS" said DR.. Guilfoy. THE autonomous
| furnishes quick medium of travel and
has "A stimulating influence on the APP
petite. Thus one of the causes for cancer