The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1920-11-17
vIT tIlIIiln' rnLunlCNT1-T-z
IN MANY COUNTIES
U. S. Health Authorities Say
Death From This Disease
Can Be Prevented F.,
(By U, s. Health service)

i
) jDiPHTHERIA is essentially a
childrens disease. 1t is an acute
disease, caused by a germ which
can be carried from person to per-
son, affecting the nose and throat;
though localized in the throat, the
poison penetrates into the blood
stream and ; affects many organs,
causing degeneration of muscular
tissue, heart failure; paralysis, etc.
STATISTICS, IN Kcntpc':y, last
year t1919) there we're between
three and four hundred deaths from
this preventable disease. Every one
Of these deaths could have been pre-
vented IL they had received a sufici-
ent dose of antitoxin in the first "a
hours of the disease. III
SYMPTOMS: The disease usual
ly starts with acute sore throat, at
times running nose, cnilliness, few
er, iiiianguor, prostration. AS ia
MILD form Of diphtheria is often
mistaken for tonsilitis pharyngitis,
laryngitis, etc., and as FATAL
form of diphtheria may be. taken
from mild form, any case OF acute
sore throat should be regarded as
suspected diphtheria, until bacterio-
logical tests prove the contrary. l
HOW SPREAD: The germs at
tack the mouth or nose and there
multiply very rapidly. They are
DIRECTLY transmitted from one
person to another by kissing. cough
ing, speaking, sneezing and through
the use of the common drinking cup
or towel. They are transmitted
INDIRECTLY in great many
ways-through toys, pencils. states,
handkerchiefs and other objects
that have been in the mouth of the
infected person, for it is a common
practice among small children to
transfer everything they touch to
the mouth. i-'.i.
CARRIERS: 1t is important to
know just what is meant by the
term carrier" In some persons
these germs grow in the mouth or
nose, and without seeming to have
the disease themselves, they can
and do transmit the disease to
others in a severe form. II car
rier' is employed in a dairy or han
dies food, and sneezes or coughs in
to the milk pail, or through the fin
gers conveys the germs to the food,
it may cause an epidemic of diphthe-
ria. ; The control OF convaIescent
and contact Carriers is an i'm
portant factor in the prevention OF
the spread of diphtheria. A con-
tact carrier" is a person who has
been exposed to the disease. Cats
and dogs should always be kept
from the room of diphtheria patti
ent, as they are the means of carry
ing the germs to others.
MANAGEMENT: If child or
other member of the household has
a sore throat, especially If there are
white patches in the throat, he
! should be placed in room by him
self. A physician should be called
: at once. The physician will secure
swab from the nose or throat II
he is suspicious of diphtheria, and
! a report from the laboratory can be
! had within IL to Is hours. Even
/ in a doubtful case, antitoxin should
| be administered i'm large doses and
at once, as it is much more liable to
save life than If postponed until
the laboratory report is received.
II the patient attends public or pri-
yate or Sunday-school. or Is at WORK
the TEACHER or employer shouid be
notified at once. The germs or seed
of odiphtheria are in the discharges
from. the nose and throat, and II
the patient is kept from others, and
all of these germs destroyed at.
once. the spread of the disease will
be checked. Soft paper, clean,
cheap cotton, linen cloths. paper
napkins. ETC.. should be provided for
use in place of handkerchiefs, and
the discharges from the nose and
throat should be wiped away with
these cloths. which should be I'M
mediately burned or placed in a
paper bag end later burned. All
bed linen. clothing of the patient
gowns and caps Of the attendants,
etc., should be thoroughly disinfect-