New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17

year. This is altogether too many, of course.
II the same rate had continued however that
prevailed in 1864 l66,8l0 deaths would have
been recorded and there would have been at
least $4,000 cases OF serious illness, as against
the 100000 cases that actually must have oc-
CURED last year
This represents saving OF nearly one-halt
million cases OF serious illness, illness where
the spectre of death haunts the patient and his
family for days and even weeks and in which
only the doctors verdict that the danger is
over" relieves the anguish Of the family. The
saving in money to the people OF this city IN
doctors fees. nurses wages, medicines, wages
OF workers and, in the case Of families near the
border line Of dependency, even in the support
of indigents can only be estimated. That 1t
will average more than $40 for each case
seems reasonable. This gives us conserva-
tive total of at least SlooooooO. If the truth
were known, it would probably be sSO,0000Oo.
DECREASE IN DEATH RATE OF CITY
IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.
Incidental to the introduction OF antitoxln
Health in 1895 may be traced rather directly
the remarkable decrease in the general death
rate in the city during the last two decades
Through the discovery Of the value OF diph-
liberia antitoxin. due to the experiments OF
the eminent French physician, DIR. Emile
Roux. and an eminent German, DR.. Emil Won
Behrng the production Of antitoxin IN this
city was undertaken. The sale OF the surplus
serum by the city secured funds which per-
mitted the development of the citys bacteria
logical laboratory. This was the first munich
pal laboratory in this country and to-day IS
the largest of its kind in the world, employing
more than two hundred persons.
The use of the facilities OF this laboratory
for the diagnosis Of infectious diseases and
for the production of sera and vaccine has
contributed in a large degree to the reduction
OF the city's death rate. Dphtheria toxin, OBJ
tanned from the cultures used in the labora-
torres Of this city. was in the carly days used
20 noculate horses in the city OF Newark,
which undertook the work OF supplying anti
toxin free soon after the experiment here had
proved TO be successful. Philadelphia, Boston
and other cities anC states throughout the
country followed the example OF New YORK
and Newark The toxin from the New York
laboratory was also used to noculate horses
in commercial laboratories. Later this same
culture. which has a peculiar strength ana
other qualities known only to bacteriologis's'
was exported TO Europe, and the so-caled
American culture is now used in the produc-
sion OF antitoxin across the country.
DIR. BIGGS GOES TO BUDAPEST TO
TO STUDY FOREIGN METHODS.
The preliminaries to the distribution OF
diphtheria antitoxin by the city Department OF
Health constitute one OF the most interesting
episodes in the history OF public health work
in this country During the summer OF 1894
DIR. Biggs. to learn more than was gwen IN
rather meagre reports of the success attending
experiments by DR.. Roux and DIR. Won Behr-
ing, went to Budapest to attend the interna-
tional congress on hygiene. His chief purpose
was to hear reports of experiments with anti
toxin to be made by the two physicians at that
congress.
Previous TO this the New York City depart
ment, under the direction of the present d.
rector OF Laboratories, DR.. Park. Dean OF the
BELLEVUE Hospital Medical College, had under
taken in a small way the production OF diph-
iberia antitoxin Preparations had been made
for the development of this work along broad
lines If the investigation by DR.. Bggs, VINO
was then Director OF Laboratories. justified IT.
Horses for the NEGOTIATIONS had been pur-