The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-11-26
THE LEAK

Some fifty years ago prominent
| Pennsylvania remarked that There
would be no more great inventions,
| because there was nothing left to In
vent" Today his Grandson operates
| an aeroplane.
Two men sat together in a railway
train. The tall, thin one was a Manu-
facturer, who had made. his way, the
| stout one with heavy eyeglasses was a
Physician. -
AS the train stopped they saw on
the house across the ways state quar-
antine sign, "Diphtheria." THAT"
said the Manufacturer, "isga disease
which has cost me thousands of dol
lars, through loss Of time of my EN-
ployes."
THAT" said the Physician. SIS a
disease which will not bother your
successors in business"
'Nonsense. Antitoxin will cure il
given early and will prevent. If given
to one who has. been exposed, but
Diphtheria cannot be completely
stamped out"
mot only can, but WILL" asserted
The doctor; "just as Small pox, the one
time scourge of the world. has been
made negligible by vaccination, as Ty
phoid is no longer danger factor to
the Army, so Diphtheria will be elimi-
mated by Toxin-antitoxin.
"And what is Toxin-antitoxin, and
how is It different from antitexin in
general usef"
"Antitoxin,r saiG the physician;
will cure diphtheria If given in suffi-
cient doses-in time: lesser doses Of
antitoxin will prevent diphtheria in
those who have been exposed to the
disease, but the protection does not
last more than a few weeks.
"A second attack OF diphtheria is in
frequent because the TOXINS" or poi
sons of the disease stimulate the blood
to form protective substances which
remain in the body"
"Toxin-antitoxin" is combination
of the actual diphtheritic poison with
sufficient of the antidote or antitoxin
to prevent harmful effect The patient
is inoculated as ii were with the poi
son Of the disease and its antidote.
but the Toxin influences the blood to
form defensive agents just as in ac-
tual diphtheria."
81 see." said the Manufacturer; you
sort of fool the blood"
well, You might call it that"
"Then your idea is to give Toxin
antitoxin to everybody
mot every person, for all are not
susceptible to Diphtheria.
How can you separate them?"
"Easily-'The Shick Test'-babies
under six months are usually immune.
above that-'The Shick Test"
Never heard of it." said the Man
ufacturer.
Perhaps not, You laughed because
never heard of Jeno.' Every man tol
his trade. you know; THE Shick Test
is employed to determine whether or
not the individual can catch diphthe-
ria. It consists of the injection be-
tween the layers of the skin of the
forearm, Of specially prepared min
ute dose of diphtheria toxin; II With
in two or three days. characteristic
redness and swelling Of the arm att
the point of injection is noticed. this
shows that the individual can catch
diphtheria: II there be no such ap-l
pearance the person cannot catch it,
Good so far as you 60" said the
Manufacturer but how are. you go
ing to make practical application of
it?"
You employ young people in your
factory?"
Lots Of them: didn't / say I'd been
hard hit by diphtheria?"
why not advise 1t for your EN-
ployes? After fhe 'Shick Test tells
them they are subject to diphtheria.
they will be anxious to take toxin
antitoxin TO render them immune for
life''
But that will be only one factory"
II am telling you, other doctors are
telling other people. the State Depart
ment of Health is advising the proceed
ure for the protection of human llfe..
How about school Children
Parents owe IT TO their children to
save them from diphtheria. all chill
dren who show susceptibility should
be protected by the administration of
'Toxin-antitoxin.'
rs there danger In the administra- |
tion?r
mo more than in giving diphtheria |
antitoxin, and its universal success
needs no comment"
Il am glad we saw the plaeard," said |
the manufacturer.
Last year Diphtheria cost Pennsyl-
vania 1888 lives; the year before 1T70
and the year before that 2019 This
Is a LEAK which can be stopped
"Toxin-antitoxin" when indicated by
the "Shick Test" is the answer.
Needless to say, the test and Toxin
antitoxin" should be administered only
by physician.