South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-23

INC -taAAAN htr- A'i rt.-...-l a.a4Al Atafll
susceptibility 20 diphtheria. some
slight apprehension has become evil
dent by mothers and fathers ass 20
the general effects OK the test upon
their children
In view OF the opinion held by "a
great number of the people that con
found the test with vaccination with
Is Usual resulting soreness. DIR. J..
G. FreyermUth. secretary Of the
board, Saturday authorized the
statement that there was no rela-
tiCnship existing between vaccina-
ton and the Schick test. and that
there was hardly any soreness re-
sutlng from the application OF the
test. Nothing more than a mos
quito bite declared the city doctor.
The letters % the parents Will be-
gin 20 go out next week and for the
time being. 90 IS made known by the
health department. and school Of
dcials. VIII concern those school
children OF the public and sectarian
schools OF the kindergarten. first and
second grades Later on. according
10 the plan. depending upon whe-
ther there IS q marked increase in
the number of diphtheria cases,
children OF the third and fourth
grades will be made eligible for the
test
Bearing directly uT appre-
henaiou being evidence some OF
the parents after IL became known
the health department was to take
necessary steps with a view OF
minimizing thc possibility OF a diph-
liberia epidemic. il is the conviction
OF DR. T. G.. Freyermutn. the health
boards secretary that where this
apprehension Is felt it is due pri-
ulri.y 90 a misunderstanding Of the
nature of the test and just what ele-
ments and results - with It.
II this connection, the board S
secro was requested 10 define
anI az.a1 just what the Schick
tcer ..i OF ana what demand
"a rI. -aity for using IT, with
Che u-H ~ an explanation easily
uUI. GOOD - the layman. 4 gen
cr mary Of the conditions that
co1frau. -a. city in the characters
ucs ~ rho disease. its causes, results
auI me.r4 20 be taken for nmmuni-
cation ~ children susceptible was
forth ming.
Tine -ecords Of the health office
show ne report. Of SO cases of diph-
lhea so far this year with / I deaths
una e a death rate OF over % per
cent. This is a very large death rate
when 70 is considered that anti-tOXin
was used in every case that died.
The death rate before the time that
anti-tOxin was discovered often
reached 60 and IS per cent. In De-
cember OF last year the death rate
rom diphtheria was 40 per cent and
April OF this year 60 per cent and
lone OF these were deprived of the
a1oected benefits Of the remedy that
has saved so many when death
seemed inevitable.
Diphtheria is a contagious di-
5ease which is known to thrive in
cold weather as well as other sea-
sons OF the year. Children under
their teens are the most susceptible
TO its ravages. and IL is known that
only in a very small minority of the
cases are the children over II years
OF age. But the disease IS known to
fasten fits hold upon a community
during the cooler portions OF the
year for the one reason, II is said.
that children attending school come
into closer contact with those chill
dren described as diphtheria germ
carriers. In a great many of these.
the children who may be actually
carrying the germs Of the disease
and who breathe them out and con-
taminate the air about them. are
themselves not I'll with the disease.
That at present South Bend is in
no imminent danger OF an epidemic
of diphtheria is testified 10 by the
city health doctor. DR.. Freyermuth
was able 10 cite what position South
Bend takes in table Of cities OF the
state and its place. so far as diph-
iberia and other contagious diseases
are concerned. is close TO the top.
Recently figures given out of cities
OF Indiana filled the city officials
and the local medical profession
with pride These figures showed
South BEND as having the lowest
death rate of any city In the state.
Diphthcria Spreading Elsewhere.
That Immediate action to place
an effective barrier against diph-
liberia making inroads into the city.
IS not premature. but, instead. de
manded as a precautionary step in
view OF conditions as evidenced by
the alarming increase IN diphtheria
IN other neighboring cities.
Chicago. the large metropolis of
the west. reports "a perceptible in
crease of the number OF its diph-
iberia cases and q tight and rigid
quarantine is beinE maintained there