Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-08-05
THE WASSEHMAN TEST
FOR SYPHILIS

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recognized as a contagious disease 1t
is thought by Some that Moses in his
ordinances, promulgated concerning
the conservation Of the public health,
gave unmistakable evidence of the
recognition of syphilis and its conta-
gious character
We know just how in that day they
made the diagnosis of this disease In
olden days ridiculous methods were
used to detect the presence of certain
diseases. But we can safely say that
the spell cast upon a patient by an
ointment made from a frogs leg a
bats eye and lizards tail in a caul-
dron by the witches was in no way
indicative of the presence or absence
of this disease, just as we can say
that at later day the trial by water
where a person suspected of crime
was thrown into the river, was guilty
if he swan but innocent if he drown
ed, was not a reasonable way of de-
termining ones guilt or innocence.
The Wassermann test, like most
Others, takes its name from the phys
ician who after many years of contin-
uous work on it, first gave it to medi-
cal science. 1t is rather complicated,
and its every step is based upon some
established fact of universally accept
ed theory. The principal reagents used
are the sera from the blood of rabbits,
guinea pigs, and the patient, the red
blood cells from the patient or
sheep, an alcoholic extract from a
beef's heart, and salt solution the
strength of which is identical with
the amount found in the blood. These
reagents are thoroughly tested to de-
termine their strength, accurately
measured, and carefully mixed and
incubated at body temperature for
definite length Of time, and the re-
suits read after a period of "a hours.
This is a blood test based on the
fact that when person contracts
syphilis the blood creates substances
called antibodies whose function is to
combat the organisms causing the dis
ease, This is natures attempt to rid
the body of these organisms If this
test reveals the presence of these
antibodies, then there is every indi
cation of the presence of the organ
isms of syphilis or otherwise these
antibodies would not have been Gre
ated by the blood.
The Wasserman test is quite an
aid to the physician in the diagnosis
Of syphilis, oftentimes revealing the
presence of the disease WHEEL outward
appearances would not indicate syph-
little infection. Anyone having any
symptoms of the disease should i'm
mediately consult his physician who
will have a Wassermann test made
on his blood These tests are now
r.ade free of charge at the Wasser-
mann Laboratory of the State Board
of Health. They advise three negative
tests taken at intervals Of six months
before the disease can be safely pro
nounced cured.
Persons contemplating marriage
who have exposed themselves in any
way and are not absolutely doubly
sure that they ere free from syphilit
ic infection, should have a Wasser
mann test made so as to help them
avoid the anxiety, horrors, sufferings
Ill health and untimely death of them
selves and progeny with which many
married lives are blighted because Of
svphilitic infection of husband or wife
at the time of marriage. Remember
that syphilis respects no social posi-
ton and recoils before no virtue; i
ramifies through every class and ranl
of society. Like pallid death it ap
nroacbes with equal step the habita
tons of the poor AMI the palaces o
the rich. 1t falls upon the just and the
unjust alike and shows no distinction
between the guilty and the innocent