The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-20

is characterized by fatigue, pain on
swallowing soreness at the angle of
the Jaws, chilly sensations and fever.
The throat is red, moist and glisten-
ing, with areas covered by a MEM
brane which on removal leaves raw,
bleeding spot. The breath is very
which recover, the fever does not go
above 102. In some cases of diph-
iberia with great involvment of the
larynx or trachea, tits sometimes nee
essary for the doctor to insert a tube
into the throat to save the child'S life.
AS in whooping cough, the compli-
cations of diphtheria are to be feared
Heart failure is more common in
diphtheria than in any other acute in
fection, not excepting pneumonia.
That is the reason why the doctor who
is taking care of a diphtheria patient
insists upon absolute quiet and re-
naming in bed. An irritation of the
kidneys occurs in SO per cent of all
cases of diphtheria.
Diphtheritic paralysis occurs in
to 10 per cent of cases. The percent
age, tho, has been reduced by the use
of antitoxin. The common form oc-
ours two to three weeks after recovery
and follows most often infection in the
throat The most common form is
that that interferes with the speech.
Lobar pneumonia is a genuine COM
plication, but -broncho pneumonia is
present. in so to so per cent of the
| fatal cases,
| The average course of the disease
is one to two weeks. Without anti
toxin the danger is very great. Epi-
denies vary in severity, 80 to so per
cent mortality having been observed
| twelve to fifteen years ago. The pres
ence of other infectious diseases such
as measles, typhoid or tuberculosis
make the outlook more grave.
| The introduction of antitoxin has
greatly lowered the death rate. Ac-
! cording to BaYeuX, the death rate IN
| 100000 diphtheria patients was IS per
cent before and 1 6 per cent after the
introduction OF antitoXin. This serum
| is given by the number of units, the
average case requires 10000 to $4,000
units while in a recent case in Topeka,
| 100000 units were required.
In the mortality statistics issued by
the director of the census for 1917.
| the deaths from diphtheria and Group
in the United States totaled 12,4b5,
corresponding to rate of 16.5 per
| 100 900 population. In 1900 the death
rate from these two causes in the reg
| istration area of the United States was
433. If we assume that these figures
measure a reduction from this cause,
since 1900 then, in round numbers
there was a saving of over 27,OOO llVes
| in 1917 in the United states. This
| is to be credited to the use OF anti
toxin, the early diagnosis and the ad-
vancement in the treatment and pre-
vention of the disease.
The death rate from diDhtheria and
Group for 100000 population in KAN
sas for 1914 was "a; for 1915, 132;
for 1916, 1916; for 1917. So. There
were $50 deaths from these two dis
| eases in Kansas in 1917. OF this num-
ber 80 were under years of age, ITO
were between the ages of 2 and 20
years and the remaining 10, past 20
years of age.
II. the weekly bulletin issued by the
IUnited States public Health service for
| the week ending November 2S, of this
year, there were reported from 44S
cities of fie United states. 2.977- cases
| of diphtheria with 161 deaths,
From April to September l of this
year. 16 cases of 2diphtheria were re-
| ported to the city health department.
From September l to December 10,
4S cases have been reported. making
a total Of "a cases from April 1 to the
present date. OF the 48 cases re-
ported since September 1, there were
rs females and % males:. At of the
white race and 15of colored. During
| September and October, 16 cases were
reported. all of them being children in
| school. OF the 43 cases reported, Z
| were children under school age, 80
are students in school. The other oc-
cupations as follows: housewife, 3;
| clerks, 3; teacher. I; grain inspector.
1; nurse. 1 salesman, 1; at home, l..
OF the 48 cases, 80 cases were between
the ages of 5, and Is years. f.
There have been deaths from
diphtheria since September 1. males.
one 7 years of age and one Is years of
| age. 1 female 5 years of age.
The quarantine regulations OF the
state board of health declare diph-
| iberia to be infectious, contagious and
| communicable in it's nature. "a dis
| ease to be reported and the home pla-
| carded. Such quarantine regulations
shall be maintained until successive
meteorological limitations from the
patient shall have been obtained at
| intervals of "a hours and I negative
EcuIture from each member of the
| household. Where proper isolation
may be maintained, after negative Gull
| ture. the wage Garner may be allowed
| to continue his work. All persons who
| have been exposed to diphtheria, shall
l L.. c..,n z da1-s a a a al