Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-09-07

AS the time is drawing near for
the opening of the schools in Rich
mond county and there are quite a
number of cases OF whooping cough
1ld diptheria in the county, | wish
to impress upon all the people OF
the county the necessity for doing
everything in their power to prevent
the further spread of these and
other infectious and contagious dis.
eases. AS the schools open and the
children are brought in contact
with each other in great numbers,
the chances for exposure to disease
is much Increased, so we readily
see the Importance OF allowing no
child which has symptoms Of a con-
tagious disease to enter school until
such child has been examined by {,
physician and presents certificate
stating that such child has no eon-
tagious disease.
One child suffering with whoopiag
cough; remaining in a school room
Tn short time will probably trans.
nit the disease to every child in
the room that has not had the dis
case. 1t is true it is unfortunate
for child to lose the time from
school because of sickness, but it is
.much better for it to do so rather
than to keep going for while and
causing many others to be sick and
lose time from school, and possibly
their lives.
We, often hear parents say chill
dren have to have whooping cough
sometime and the sooner the better,
but | desire to say this is mis-
taken idea, for the older a child
becomes the stronger it is and he is
more able to withstand the disease.
Most children that die from whoop.
ing cough are under five years OF
age. Very few children over five
years of age die from this disease,
so we can readily see the import
ance of preventing the spread of the
disease ind, in this way, save the
children from exposure.
We now have a vaccine which, If
given to children, lessons the dan
ger of contracting the disease. This
is not an absolute preventative in
every case, but if it does not prevent
it entirely it will cause the attack
to be of a more mild form. After a |
child has developed whooping cough
the vaccine will, in some cases, cure
it and if it fails to cure the disease
it will make it run a milder course
and lessen the danger of complied
tons that some time accompany |
the disease.
In regard to diptheria, every child !
from the age of six months to six
years should be given three doses
of toxin anti-toxin; which immunes
the child from diptheria, one of the
most dangerous diseases which chill
dren are subject to. For full details
in regard to this toxin anti-toxin, H
advise every parent who has young
children to consult their family II
who will be glad to give |
them full details in regard to this
treatment.
No child suffering from sore
throat should be allowed to attend
school until it presents certificatel
from a doctor stating that it has no
of diptheria. BY every
body cooperating and complying
with the quarantine laws, WE
should pc able to prevent, to very t
great extent, tho further spread OF
those diseases. The law requires
every teacher to report to the quar-
antine officer every case of any of
the reportable diseases, which he or
she knows about in their school
district. 1t also requires every pa
rent or householder to report every
case in their home about whom mol
physician has been consulted Each !
is required to report every
case about which he has been con-
suited. / feel sure that all will
take an interest in this work Of
disease and much good
will be accomplished and many
lives be saved by our efforts.
Respectfully yours,
DR. w. r. MCINTOSH,