The Washington times., 1923-04-05
DR.FONER
. To OPEN
CLINIC
Three Institutions Report Ex-
celIent Results With New
Preventive Method.

The Shick test, hailed as the
greatest preventive of diphtheria
Of the present age, is being in
troduced in Washington by the
District Health Department, DR..
William G. Fowler, District
Health Officer, announced today.
DR.. Fowler declared. he believed
the general use of this test would
result in a material reduction in
deaths from diphtheria. He plans
to establish q clinic in this city
with free tests for all persons
applying.
Tried I'm Institutions.
Three charitable institutions have
tried the Shick test In five other
institutions inmates are now under
going the treatment. There appear
Cd q possibility that the health Off
Ger might make move to extend
the test to every student in the
public schools.
DR.. J. T. Sprague. chief OF the
contagious disease section Of the
Health Department, who has been
placed In immediate charge OF the
tests, explained them today. as
follows:
An Injection is made into the arm
Of child. The reaction will re-
veal whether the child is susceptible
TO dtphtheria II the child. is sus-
I'D - 4
and antftoxin ID made. This injec-
ton renders the child immune from
diphtheria for a period of from
four to seven years.
Approved by Physicians.
Medical officers in charge Of in
situations where the tests were
made, according to health officers,
were enthusiastic. These men, 1t is
said, insisted that the tests be made
In the institutions with which they
were associated. They were made
by physicians Of the District Health
Department. So far three institu-
tons, st. Johns Orphan Asylum,
the Bruen Home, and the Washing
ton City Orphan Asylum. have had
the test. 4
In the Bruen Home sixty-four
children were tested, and twenty
one were found to be susceptible.
Forty gave a negative reaction. In
three cases nothing definite was
revealed. In connection with this
home, the health department says:
1T will be noted that in this in
edtution there were twenty-one chill
dren who were actually susceptible
TO the diphtheria organism. In this
home the final dose of toxin and
anti.todn has been given. It il
worthy Of note that there has not
been a case of diphtheria- developed.
Every child in the institution has
been immunized."
No Cases Developed.
In the other two institutions. 81.
Johns and the WASHINGTON City
Orphan Asylum, which have not an
yet had the ninety-day injection of
toxin and anti.toxin, up to the pres.
ent time no cases of diphtheria have
developed.
The remaining institutions WIN re-
Port later, Dr.. Sprague announces.
DR.. Fowler declared It Is the in
tentton OF the Health Department to
apply this test to as many instftus
tons In the city in which they may
b able to obtain the consent of the
medical officers and the board of
trustees.
Health officials believe they may
In time practically eliminate dipf-
liberia IN the city Of Washington.
They feel confident that the death
rate viii be heavily out.
DR.. Shick, discoverer Of the pre-.
tentative, IL a German. He made
the campaign some eight or ten
years ago. About six years ago DR..
William II. Park, noted bacteriolog-
list connected with the New York
city health department. began ex.
permenting with the discovery. AS
result the test was introduced into
the public schools. According to re-
ports diphtheria has been practical
" exterminated among school chill
dren In the metropolis.
Successful II New York.
Dr.. Sprague declared the test
was being used universally: He
pointed out that In New York
city. the health department had
eetabfshed stations throughout
tne city where physicians may OBJ
tain the toxin and anti toxin free
Of charge.
le should be used In Washing.
tons" he declared, "In every city
where the test has been used, It
was met with approval and has
been successful"
Or. sprague aise said that the
infections win not make q person
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