The Glenwood post., 1921-01-08
CAN PROTECT CHILD
A0A11103 DuH912A

WA0I11No4ON, Jun. x8038 -
absolutely no way Of definitely fore
telling whether this winter win witzsss
any recurrence of influenza n cpl
demic form,' said Surgeon Gsnssal n.
S. Cumming, of the United states Pub
lie Health Service. "As q result, hsw.
ever, Of very careful analyses Of the
epidemiology of influenza, especially n
the result of intensive studies in homes
where influenza occurred In 1919, It may
be stated that an attack of inAusn4a
appears to confer definite immunity 81
subsequent attacks, an immunity MT
ing for several years. Inasmuch - the
epidemic Of 1918 and 1919 affected 70
very large a proportion Of the popula-
ton, there would seem to be reasonable
grounds for believing that even sAould
flu' become prevalent here aud there,
it would not assume the epidemic pro
portions of the past two years, nor
would it rage in such severe form.
"It is unfortunate that the public
becomes SO intensely interested in srec-
tacular epidemic outbreaks Of diseases
and is so little moved by the daily oe-
currence of many preventable deaths
in all parts of the country. OF the one
and quarter million deaths occurring
in the United States annually, at least
100000 could easily be prevented by
the application of available medical
knowledge. For example, one of the dis
eases which becomes prevalent about
this time of the year is diphtherta.
This disease is responsible for about
$1,000 deaths in the United States an
nually. Practically every one Of these
deaths could be prevented, for not only
have we an effective anti-toxin for
treating the disease when it occurs, but
what is still more important, we are
now able by means Of simple skin test
to determine which children are sus-
ceptible to diphtheria, and, this aseer-
tanned, we can effectively immunize
them so as to protect them against this
disease.
HThe ten thousand or more deaths
from typhoid fever that occur annually
in the United States could also b large
w prevented if communities evsrywhsse
would make certain that their water
and milk supplies were protected, and
if simple precautions were taken in
homes where typhoid fever occurs. IT
is encouraging to know that smallpox
has been so well controlled that at
present the average deaths from 1t III
the United States number only 400 an
uually. Nevertheless, these 400 deaths
are entirely unnecessary, for vacciua-
tion has long shown itself an effective
means Of control.'
In almost every community IN the
country the waste of infant lives 3
still enormous, especially when contrast
ed with that in New Zealand, for ex-
ample. where the death rate is only 5o
per thousand births in the first year
of life as against 100 in the United
States.
Commenting on this, Surgeon General
Cumming said: "The expense of life
saving through the prevention and con
troll Of disease by welldirected health
measures is very small indeed when
eontrasted with the saving effected.
would strongly urge the people OF th's
country to recognize the fact that ex-
norditnres in this direction constitute
the most profitable form of investment
Effective measures Of health conscrva-
tion constitute a most urgent need OIL
this reconstruction period.