The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-12-15

Diphtheria.
The slogan keep your child az home
when he has sore throat" used In the
article on scarlet fever Is equally ap-
pilcahlo 90 diphtheria. This disease
like scarlet fever. has a short period Of
incubation. 4 e.. II develops within a
few days after the Infection was con-
tractod. II your child - not immune
ne viii probably show some signs or
the disease within from one 20 seven
days-usuaily from two 70 five days
after exposure.
Unfortunately. the manner a. its on
set and the type o. dlphtheria varies.
20 that IN mild cases Il Is not always
possible % say that a child has diph-
iberia in the beginning IN these cases
this cannot always be stated positively
until the secretion from tho threat
and nose has been examined for the
germs of the disease. Hence, YOU can
see the Importance. for the safe
guarding u other susceptible persona
% keeping your child AZ home when
he has a sore throat. nasal discharge
and enlarged glands in the neck. even
though he docs not seem 20 be really
"a lie may be carrying with him the
yiruient germs, dangerous 60 the com
munity az large, and particularly 80
20 the children
II BE- equally important for your own
child8 safety that he not ouly be
kept az home when he has the above
mentioned symptoms bat that he also
be- kept quiet The toxin. o. poison. of
diphtheria seems 80 have decided
prediction for the heart and nervous
system and sometimes Tor the Kidneys
IN nearly an severe cases there o.
some Involvement 81 the heart and "A
post diphthoritlc paralysis IL not al
all uncommon. the msucles of tht
throat being frequently affected
The use of ant-toNin Ga diphtheria
IL now the recognized method Of treat.
mcnt Do iH important far parents tu.
understand however that this. to 81
most cfGcuricus must BE- administered
before the toxin. the poison sccreted by
the serma has had chance 10 d.
much damage They win. therefore.
recognize the necessity ~ having
ease 81 diphtheria treated rs early
as possible When diphthcr.a s prev
aieut consider every sorc throat
probable case 81 diphthcria and send
for me doctor
The germs airs contained in the se-
crctlena from tho nose ana throat .Ana
are spread rs eoughinE snscring aud
talking TIE patient or carrier q
source ~ contaEion until two mega
ti,~ cultures have been obtained
This means that two specimens from
the throat or nose have been exam.
ined az least one day apart. and have
been found free from the diphtherlr
germs on both occasions. This usually
occurs within two weeks
Thc disease is spread rs the pa
tient infected articles ttoyu. cte3. ana
hy carriers \ carrier" is person
who carries The germs On hs throat
lone after he has had the disease. OF
often whom hc has never had ~ al ali .
IN the latter case he has received the 4
germ from some une. but uot bclna
susceptible 60 The disease O. has mover
Developed though the germ remains .
iu bis throat lie is then an unsuspect-
ed and perfectly innocent source os
contagieu.
Because % the danger of carriers
and mild unreeognized eases. in any
Instance where "a case 90 diphtaerin .
has developed Ia family Institution .
or school every person who has heea
exposed should have an cxaminat ion \
~ the thruat and nose.
A valuable means ~ Determining
lne's Immunity 20 diphtheria n found
IN what is known a. the schi-k test.
This consists 81 in5ectlng into the
skin a small amount ~ the d.phtheria
oxln. n the subject u tmm.es no re- n
,ction occurs II he u susceptible. 5
mail red spot appears where the In N
eetion was made. remains about SIX
10 ten days and disappears gradually.
caving 3 hrownish ep0t which may be-
zen for months There are usually