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

The aims and objects of a city bac-
THEOLOGICAL department ars in keeping
with the great reform movement which
is being carried on in all parts of the
world by scores of enthusiastic and
scientific health workers the primary
aims of which are the protection OF
health and the prolongation of human
life.
Certainly there is nothing of greater
Importance than protecting human life
from the ravages of the many danger
Gus and fatal diseases to which man
kind may be subjected.
Surely l am glad to be interested
and instrumental in a cause that so
vitally affects the health. happiness ana
substantial growth of one of the great
est cities in the south, which aids in
the promotion of many of the mar
velous achievements.
department of this kind serves
many important purposes in a we'll es-
tablished health organization. as an aid
to the proper enforcement of health
and quarantine laws, for the protec-
ton of the health of the citizens of a
great and growing city
Its services are extended to all classes
of citizens, free of charge
Protection to Health
The work carried on and to be ac-
complished by a department of this
kind is not only an aid TO the pro.
lection of human health, which is un-
doubtedly the greatest blessing of man
kind in insuring happiness in every
home but in many instances, as viii
be shown elsewhere in this paper til,
results obtained make it possible foI
considerable saving from a financial
point of view.
However. the results ACCOMPLISHED
by meteorological department cannot
be estimated in dollars and cents rela-
tive to the benefits and advantages to
individuals, as well as to the general
public, in aiding in the control and
suppression of the contagious and in
1ectious diseases. Many times the dis
coveries made in the laboratory may
detect some disease that would not
otherwise be detected in its incipiency
and therefore serious harm might re-
suit to the individual patient, also
subjecting other persons to the dan
gers of infection from the disease In
many instances the facts determined in
the laboratory may make it necessary
10 isolate and quarantine the patient
or they may clear Up the suspicion
OF some disease so the patient can be
relieved from the burden of uuaran-
tine and isolation. or 1t may change
the entire line of treatment This is
especially true in making diagnoses Of
diphtheria. 1t is the opinion of the
best authorities that the clinical symp-
toms of diphtheria are no longer of the
greatest significance-the only correct,
scientific and accurate method of MAX
Ing. the iia pf iplf L.,
the culture method and the Identified
tion of the diphtheria organisms in the
laboratory by the use of the micro
scope.
Hence 1t is deemed advisable and
necessary TO make cultures from all
sore throats, both slight and extensive.
Although a patient may be SUFFERING.
from sore throat, having almost ev-
cry clinical symptom of diphtheria. vet
When culture made from such a
throat is examined in the laboratory
ana found to be only follicular tonsil-
lus, only pus-producing organisms be-
ing present. a valuable discovery has
been made, because it establishes the
real status of the nature of the trouble
so 1t viii not be necessary to burden
the patient with isolation and uuaran-
tine, at the same time relieving the
other members of the family and
friends of the worry and anxiety IN
regard to the condition of the patient:
also saving considerable on the ex-
pense of the antitoXin that might be
thought TO be necessary to be admin
lstered to various persons as pre-
cautionary measure, should there be
doubt as to whether the case be diph-
liberia
Microscope Reveals Secrets
While in some instances it is pos
sible that some individual patients
showing only vague clinical symptoms
of diphtheria, yet by microscopic ex-