The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-13
WILLIAMS SURPRISED
At PUBLIC IGNORANCE
Finds Over State Entire Lack of
Appreciation OF Value of
Antitoxin.
HAS SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES
Treatment for Diphtheria Cases Sup.
piled by State BOARD OF Health at
Cost, Thus Eliminating Middle
1ncn, and Reducing Price.

DR.. Ennion G. Williams, State Health
commissioners. said yesterday: "I am
surprised to find in travelling over the
State lack of knowledge and appre-
citation OF the value OF diptheria an.
titosin. think the matter is highly
Important to the public health. Many
people do not know that 1t can be
bought through the State Board of
Health at much less than the retail
price. The cost liz now little more
than one-fourth OF the former price.
Worse still. find people who do not
even know that this great remedy
VIII virtually cure every case OF dfph-
iberia II administered In time.
The story OF diphtherIa antitoxin Is
one of tho miracles OF our day. Since
the discovery of the germ diphtherin.
more than thirty years ago, there has
been steady progress in knowledge of
the disease. Investigation early show
ed that diphtheria was caused only by
taking into the nose or mouth the
germs Of diptheria that came from
some one who harhored the germs in
his throat or nose. 1t has been found
that the diphtheria germs multiply
readily In the threats of human be-
ings, and that they do not always pois-
on those in whose throats they grew.
suffer little Inconvenience. but they
give diphtheria 30 others. The use OF
glass from which some one with
diphtheria has drunk may carry the
disease; the uncleanly habit OF put
ting tho fingers in the mouth Is like
wise responsible Tor the spread OF
diphtheria; a dozen ways might be
mentioned by which the secretions
from the mouth of one who has diph-
iberia may reach healthy person and
give him the disease.
ANTITOXIN HAS SAVED
TWO MILLION LIVES
81, was on the basis of this knowl-
edge that Behring perfected diphtheria
antitoxin. and introduced II In America
just twenty years ago. The death rate
from diphtheria declined just In pro-
portion as antitoXin became more wide
ly used. Prior to 1894. the death rate
in n severe epidemic Of diphtheria was
sometimes as high as 35 per cent:
nowadays, where antitoXin is admin
istered promptly, the mortality does
not go above 3 per cent In cnses
where the antitoxn Is given on the
first day of tho disease, recovery is
almost certain without Ill effects OF
any kind. Two million lives, it is es-
timated. have been saved by antitoxin
since it was discovered--a record, e%-
celled only by that of Jenner's small
poX vaccine.
ITO the general use of diphtheria an
titoXin there has been but one obstacle
the high price at which II has been
sold. Ten, even $50. have been do
manded in some communities for anti
toxin sufficient to cure a case OF diph-
liberia, Happily. however, this obstacle
has been removed by an arrangement
which the State government has made.
Antitoxin is now dispensed through the
cost, to all who need II. Tho standard
dose of 5000 units. which sometimes
costs $3.50, can be had through the
State board for sl.S9. bin being rem
dered direct by the manufacturer.
we need only wider knowledge Of
the nature OF diphtheria. OF the methods
by which 1t is spread, and OF the
weapon available against IL, to List IL
among those diseases which Man has
conquered"