The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-12-05
DIPHTHERIA PREVALENT IN
SOME PARTS OF COUNTY
County Health Department Adopting
Vigorous Preventive
Measures

| There are four cases Of diPhtheria
! under quarantine al the present tine
:; in the county and two cases that have
| pccn recently released and one tatal
case recently, according - the OIL
Gals Of the county h@altn depart
ment. Throat cultures, use OF the
preventive dose Of ant.toxin and rigid
quarantine has been practiced 70 pre-
vcnt the further spread OF this terri
DIE disease. during the fight against
this disease, as an innovation, the use
Of ? serum "ToX:n-Ant!toXln' is also
icing used.
This is a new serum 70 oe used IN
THIS section OF the state BY the health
department or the doctors. However,
1t nas been used extensively IN the
larger cities of this country and has
proven so satisfactory as prevent
I'VE of diphtheria that the state beard
of health has agreed to distribute
limited amount through It's health
departments to be used among the
people OF this state.
Regarding the effects Of this serum
and the reaction perhaps it would be
wise to say word. According to an
article that appeared in recent issue
of the A. NJ. A. Medical Journal by
DR.. VIM. H. Park OF New York City,
this serum has been used since before
the great war in that city. Tie con-
c!usions to his article are based on
over 100000 persons, mainly chill
dren that nave been treated.
''The procedure is harmless, con-
s.itutional and local reactions follow
ing the toxin-antitoxin injections are
negligible to the infant; slight and in
ersqucnt IN tae young child; modcr
atc to r::..::.er severe in about 10 per
cent OF older children and adults. The
effects. are largely due to the protein
contents of the culture iiuid and not
due to the toxin as such. The devel-
opment of aatitoxin on the part OF
the one inocul4ted is slow 80 per
cent develop sufficient antitoxin in 3
months to protect them against an at
tack of diphtheria. SO per cent of
the remainder de:elcp sufficient anti
toxin in IL months to protect them.
This can be determined by skin test
called the Schick test. Those not
showing immunity should receive an
other course. The duration of the i'm
munity in at least 80 per cent of the
chillren is for more than six years
ard probably for the remainder OF
life. 1t is considered unnecessary to
give toxin-antitoXin to infants under
six months Of age as they :eta!n the
antitoxin given them by their moth
ers. All children between the ages
Of 6 months and 6 years should re-
ceive the toxin-anttoxin.
Now the Newberry county health
department has limited supply Of
toxin-antitoxin on hand for free dis
tribution. SO far 555 doses have
been given mainly at Sa!uda, Mont;-
cello, Prosperity, Vaughrville and
Chappells. We have had some diff
Guilty in gettinc this serum as ii IS cx-
pensive and the appropriation has
net been sufficien. 70 supply the 10
cal county health department with a
considerable supply. As it is mainly
young children that have this disease
the distribution will be limited to
children under 10 years Of age and
we prefer TO give It only TO p:'c-school
children. However, we wish to use
school buildings for the purpose Of
meeting together. Those communi-
ties desiring 70 have this serum used
amongst them nay have this done b"
notifying DR.. Z. F. Kaotts, director
of the county health department at
! Newberry.
IL. 1 1n