South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-23
AdUantage of Diphtheria Test on School
Children ReUeaIed by Health officer


The doctor defends the installa-
ton OF trained nurses in public
schools. and commended DR. r. 3.
Dugdale. a member OF the school
board. for his progressiveness in this
direction.
Through DR.. Dugdale'5 instru-
mentality our public schools have
been supplied, net only with nurses,
but also with equipment. in some OF
the buildings, for free dental service
TO the pupils from INDECENT families.
More are in prospect"
Referring 20 his paper read before
the health officers school last spring,
and citing local statistics OF 1920
showing that Of the so cases of diph-
iberia, there were a total Of 10
deaths, DR.. Freyermuth stated that
the findings Of last year are ever
true and applicable to the prevention
OF the disease this fall. He gives
incidents showing the value OF anti
toxin as the preventative used upon
those who have been exposed 10 the
disease, but its preventative power
is OF only about two weeks dura-
ton and most successfully in COM
batting in many cases those sick
with it.
There were 10 deaths from diph-
liberia during the year" repeated the
doctor, making a mortality of 1925
per cent adding:
All but one, who was IS, were
under 10 years of age, harmonizing
with published statistics showing
that so per cent Of the fatalities
from diphtheria occur in young
children. With a single exception,
a little tot, moribund when the doc
tor first saw it, dead before the
remedy could be brought TO the bed
side, all had received anti-toxin some
time during the course Of the dis
ease"
Here the doctor cited statistics Of
1920 again to show that the disease
gained in maHglancy after Dec.
/ OF last year,
Sixty OF the 80 cases and two of
/ the 10 deaths were reported before
/ Dec. 1. In December the disease
/ appeared in a malignant form, caus-
/ ing a mortality OF 40 per cent (eight
deaths in 20 cases. and WILDLY re-
/ minded me Of the scourge diphtheria
was in pre-ani-toXin days.
Two Of the little folk died within
/ IS hours Of the onset of the disease.
Two died in one family after a some
what protracted illness
an April there were three deaths
in FIVE cases" said the doctor. "a
! mortality Of so per cent. The pos
sibility of a recurrence of such a
mortality On a larger scale gave me,
as the guardian of the health of the
! children OF my city. no littl concern
and much thought"
Recommends the Shick Test.
Last winter" said the doctor,
referring to the campaign inaugur-
ated against the disease at this time,
"a correspondent between myself
and the Lederlie Co. interested me
/ in the Shick test and toxin-antitoxin
mixture, which led to correspondence
with the New York city board of
health and finally to a program for
a diphtheria prevention campaign in
South Bend and vicinity. The pro-
gram included addresses by DR.. a.
| Zingher. assistant director Of the re-
| search laboratory of the department
Of health Of the city Of New York,
to the medical profession in the
morning, to the business men at the
noon luncheon of the Chamber of
/ Commerce and to a mass meeting in
| the evening. No city funds being
available for the work, our mer-
chants, having the matter laid before
them, heartily commended and
agreed TO finance the scheme. The
press took kindly to the proposition
and gave it much publicity. The
Chamber of Commerce offered the
use OF its building for the meetings
and gave every assistance possible.
Circular letters were sent to all the
doctors in the county, to the bust
ness men Of the city. anu TO 5000
parents to attend these meetings.
Even yet favorable comment is
heard of DR.. Zingher's talk to the
meetings we held on that day last
winter" said DR.. Freyermuth. Many
adults, at the close of the night
meeting, awaited themselves Of the
opportunity TO be Shick- tested"