The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

n Psychological Department
great source of danger to other epr- |
sons with whom they come in con-
tact as though the case be of a typical |
clinical type of the disease. 1t Is easy |
to see of how much Importance 1t is
when a case of diphtheria of this kind
is detected IN some child. who may |
nave a number of playmates and as |
sociates in some particular neighbor- |
hood, or perchance in some large |
school. In this way 1t may sometimes
happen that an epidemic of diphtheria |
is prevented.
In many Instances a positive finding of
diphtheria has been made in the lobora-
tory by the microscopic examination of
stain made right from the swab as it |
reached the laboratory. thus avoiding |
much delay in waiting for the incubation |
of the culture. As can be seem this is |
of special value to make these quick
diagnoses, several hours are thereby |
saved and the patient can be given the |
anttoxin Immediately, isolated and quar-
antined, and il any other persons hav-
ing been exposed, the mmunizing doses !
of antitoxin can be administered TO them |
this of course, depending on their
wishes and the advice of the attending
physician. However a negative result
from an immediate swab examination
means nothing, culture must be
properly incubated and examined micro !
scopically before a final report can be
given.
The laboratory makes examinations Of
all release cultures, desired by the at
tending physicians. or the health depart
ment; cultures taken from diphtheria con-
valescents, until the diphtheria bacili are
proven to be absent, in at least two sue
cessiVa instances of cultures taken on
different days. In this manner the health
IN n II 10 &c
of diphtheria properly isolated and quar-
antined until the contagion has disap-
peared
Examinations in Schools
In the city of Birmingham for the last
several years, 1t has generally been the
custom to include in the medical exam
nation of the pupils in our large school
system examinations for the presence of
"diphtheria carriers" Hence cultures are
taken by the physicians employed to look
after this work. from the throats or
nose of all children showing any sus-
picion. The blood-serum culture media
and the sterile swabs for all of this work
have been prepared and supplied by the
hacteFiologlca department of the city.
These cultures, after being inoculated and
returned to the laboratory, are incubated |
examined microscopcally and a report
made on same by the bacteriologist and
his assistants Each year in addition to
department, about 1000 of these culture
media and sterile swabs have been pre-
pared and supplied for this school work.
The number of these cultures showing
positive, of course have varied from year
to year-ranging from AZ to 7S, that showed
the presence of the diphtheria organisms. |
One year in the month of August there
were y positive cultures from the regu-
lar routine examinations, but In the
months of September and October, the
months in which this school work was
done, we had 5s and 81 positive cultures
each month, respectively. This shows how
diphtheria will spread by the "diphtheria
carriers when children from all parts
of the city are brought into closer rela-
ton with each other, attending the fairs,
the circus and at the opening of the
schools, before these carriers are de- |
tected, removed and properly handled.
Literature for Parents
In this connection l think the health !
department should be permitted to have
some literature printed to be sent out
to the parents or guardian of each child. |
found to be harboring the germs of diph- !,
liberia, explaining this matter fully: !
which should read something like the
following:
l. BY a competent microscopic exami-
nation made of a culture taken from your
child (give the name). the germs of |
diphtheria have been found. Although no |
apparent symptoms of illness or disconl- |
fort are indicated physically. at the same |
time, since this child's throat has been I,
found to be harborins the germs of diph- |
iberia, it is very necessary for the health |
officer to send your child home as Il |
protection to the other children In the |
school. Also to plaoard your house as q
note of warning to the public.
2. For the safety of your child as we'll |
as to the other members of the family, |
you are advised to consult your family 7
physician and secure from him good /
throat wash for this child, which should |
be used to eliminate these germs.
3. AS soon as necessary an officer from
the health department will visit your
home for the purpose of taking a release
culture from your child's throat. and as |
soon as two cultures taken on successive
days have been found negative whicn |
shows that the contagior has disappeared.
your house will then be fumigated. the
placard removed, the child will be re-
leased from quarantine and will then be
allowed to return to school 5s
A. The usual precautions as applied to
contagious and infectious diseases in |
rene, relative to visitors, the delivery OF
milk and the removal of empty milk bot
ties from such premises by dairymen,
must be observed
Closer Understanding
| think some information of this kind
would bring about a clearer understand
ing between the health authorities and |
the public, and that the same would have
tendency to cause a better observance
of the health and quarantine laws by |
the public generally. which would bring
about better appreciation Of the value
and importance of the enforcement OF
such laws.
nhere are a number OF other lines OF |
work carried on regularly by the bae-
THEOLOGICAL department In making mic
roscopic examinations of specimens to aid
the physicians in establishing correct
dis gnoses. which are of great benefit TO
the public health, consisting of sputuni
and urine examinations for tuberculosis. /
Testing spinal fluid for spinal meningitis. L
the examination of pus smears for the
detection of the presence of gonorrhoeai
infection, including genito-urinay and
ophathalmic forms, examinations of fecal II
matter for hookworins and other intes-
tinal parasites and organisms; including
blood examinations for typhoid and ma II
,aria and pernicious anaemia, and so on II