The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-10-23
ELIMINATING DIPHTHERIA
Individual May be Made Immuns for
Life.

Diphthera is an acute infectious !
epidemic disease, caused by specific |
germ. This disease Is specially com.
non in children to whom il Is peculiar
y fatal. but it also attacks adults.
Diphtheria is prevalent in the fall
months. La t month September
ffty.six cases were reported in the
state OF Vermont. Six cases were re-
,oited in Bennington county during
the first week of October with two
deaths.
The tissues of the throat are best
suited for the grouth OF the diph
iberia germ. II + spread by leaving
he body by way Of the mouth and
lose and contracted by taking into
the mouth or nose the discharges of
an infected person. 1t Is often spread
by milk that has become infected but
more commonly by the interchange
of mouth secretions. Another source
OF danger is from carriers who are
not sick, probably immune, but they
incubate the germ in Their throat and
pass them on to persons who are not
immune to diphtheria. Germs belong
to the vegetable kingdom, and grow
like moss on log or mold on pump
kin PIE.
Since the discovery Of antl-toxin, it
has superseded all other treatment
and is furni he'd free of cost by the
State Board of Health The death
rate in Chicago for eight years before
anti.toxin came into use was 12.45
per 10000 annually. In the eight years
following is use the death rate was
only 455 per 10000 population.
The prevention of the spread of
diphtheria depends on the isolation of
sick persons and carriers so that their
secretions may not infect others. An
other means of protection was discov-
cred about Is years ago by DR.. Schick
of New York and is known as the
Schick te t. II consists of injecting
about IL drops of virus into or be-
tween the layers OF the skin. If the
person injected is immune nothing
will develop or come of it, If the
person receiving the injection is sus-
cept BILE to diphtheria there will in the
course of a few days develop a red
area similar to a mosquito bite, but
no more serious. Thus we are able
to determine the immunes from the
nonimmunes.
The Health Commissioner OF Bos-
ton, Mass, reports that between May
S, 1922 and September rs, 1922. 1926
children in that city were Schick test
ed Ten per cent of these children
have not presented themselves for
inspection. OF the e inspected 40 per
cent were nonimmune and 81 per
cent were immune (proof spirits). DR.,
Zingher of the New York city Depart
ment Of Health has during the past
l3 years made this test on over 450,-
900 persons. 1t is claimed that last
year II saved 800 lives and that there
we're 2, 900 fewer cases Of diphtheria
N that city than in the preceding
year. The sum of $4,000 has been
allotted this year for Dr. Zingher to
carry on this work Vermont has
started on this work and already about
1900 person have been Schick tested.
Thus far the Schick test has been
explained showing how the immunes
and non.mmunes can be detected and
classified With immunes there is
nothing more Of interest. they will
never have diphthera. The non-im-
munes are the ones now to be con-
adered and cared for. If they so de-
sire they may be rendered immune
for life by. the injection of Schick
Toxin-Antithxin under the skin.
The Vermont State Board Of Health
! is now prepared to make the Schick
test and immunize any person request
ing il. but no oh Id will be tested by
the District Health officer without the
written consent of parent or guardian.
The Boston Medical and Surgical
journal commenting on this proceed
ure says, IF physicians and nurses
will supplement the work done by en-
dorsement and explanation of its GER
tain benefits, many more people will
realize that 1t is one of the efficient
methods conducive to the preservation
| 80 hnoltb