Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-05

denies can be prevented altogether by
prompt and active measures.
Med Man Especially Trained.
"A city health physician should be
a man especially trained" continued
Dr.. Boyd. There are many young
men who have been trained along this
line who are available for public health
work until such time that they go into
active practice for themselves. The
city Of Oekaloosa had its experience
about four years ago when 1t had an
epidemic Of typhoid fever. This
awakened tho city to the need Of a
and Oskaloosa now employs one.
Should Pay $500 or $1,000. !.
This city should employ health
physician at salary Of $1,000 or
$1,000 per year. and the money would
BE- well spent" said DR.. Boyd. "a
laboratory could be fitted up for his
use at a comparatively small cost, and
the city could have everything in shape
to cope with any emergency that might
arise The health physician should
take all cultures in diphtheria epidemics
instead Of tho physicians in charge,
and should have strict supervision over
guarantees. Altho the state quaran-
tine laws are lax. there Is nothing to
prevent any local board Of health
adopting its own quarantine rules as
may be deemed for the best interests
Of the public health
Tells Of 'Dipthsria.
In speaking of diphtheria and how
It Is spread. Dr.. Boyd said:
Diphthsria and IL Control.
SDiphtheria Is an acute communica-,
bles disease to which children seem
particularly susceptible. It is charac-
terized by the formation of ulcers on
TIE mucous membrane Of the nose,
throat and tonsils. larnyx, traclnea, or
other mucous or skin surfaces Of the
body. These liberated surfaces are
covered by a whitish membrane which,
IL removed. leaves a bleeding surface.
The formation Of a membrane on the
mucous surfaces Of the larynx may
even suffocation.
'H the disease were limited to these
manifestations It would not be particu-
larly serious. However, the micro
organisms which cause the disease
fsecrete ono Of the most powerful
poisons known, which Is readily alb
sorbed by the body from the liberated
areas where the growth Of the diph-
iberia bacillus takes place. This
poison. or toxin, has particularly de-
structive action on the nervous sys-
tenn, and thru this selective action
causes most Of the deaths from the
J. disease.
..Ths diphtheria bacillus has only a
brief existence outside the human
body rs the Influences OF light and
drying are fatal to It. We therefore
consider that the existence Of the
diphtheria bacillus always depends up
on injected human individuals. who
may be either persons sick with the
disease or what Is known as carriers
Of the organism.
Carriers Of the Dissass.
Carriers are individuals who can
4 harbor the organisms Of any Infectious
disease without apparent III effects to
themselves This relationship is a Pc
culfar one. and Is probably due to the
immunity Of the carrier Individual The
conditions may persist for some time
and is met with under the following
circumstances: (1) in individuals who
never show any symptoms Of diph-
liberia and who do not do so as long
as they harbor the diphtheria bacilli:
(2) individuals who later present the
symptoms Of the disease and (3) indi-
viduals who have recently recovered
from the disease. In such individuals
the diphtheria bacillus may persist in
the nose and throat for several weeks
and months, and except in the second
class mentioned. tho carriers remain
perfectly free from the disease. But
y carriers are fully as capable Of trans
hitting the disease to healthy persons
as are those III with dtphtheria, and
moreover. because unrecognized. are
more likely to do so.
How Disease May Be Transmitted.
.From the infected Individual, (eith-
er case or carrier) the disease is trans
mitted to healthy persons thru direct
q contact, thru the agency Of fingers.
pencils, cups and similar agents which
have been IN use short time previous
by an infected Individual and further,
tho rarely, thru the infection OF a
milk supply.
TN controlling and eradicating the
disease from q community It Is im-
Operative that the sources Of Infection;
( ke infected individuals. be isolated eff
r ntiveiy a. long a. their infected COM
4 On persists. It IL obvious that such
4cted individuals must be recognized
49, 1bre these control measures can be
Instituted and made effective. Persons
sick with the disease usually have q
physician IN attendance who. II COM
+ petent, can recognise the disease and
who, further, VIII, II possessed Of re-
eard for the public welfare and health
4 laws, promptly report the case to the
local health authorities. They are
& thus, as rule, promptly recognized.
uuarantined, and therefore are not a
yrave source OF danger to others
Carrier Grave Source Of Danger.
ssWitf, the carrier the situation Is
different, his health being good he pre-
sents no obvious signs Of the disease.
vat ne IL a grave source OF danger to
his associates and, where unrecog-
nised IL the chief source by which the
disease Is spread. Fortunately. bac-
& terioiogical examinations Of cultures
taken from the nose and throat will
show the diphtheria bacillus and de-
cisiyeIy Indicate the diphtheria car
rter Therefore. in any diphtheria epi-
desnic, 1t Ii absolutely necessary to In
: etffilte METEOROLOGICAL searches for car
rfers In the population among whom
the disease Is prevalent ana quaran-
tine those found to be carriers until
their danger to others ceases. g
People some times fan to realize the
danger carrier Is to susceptible per-
sons with whom he associates. and
think that because an Individual fs
healthy. quarantine ID unjust. Persons