Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-04-04
Diphtheria Clinics Shenandoah
County

consider the introduction of the
latest method of preventing
diphtheria in the County. The
/ Society was addressed by Mr..
| Aubrey III. Straus. Director OF
| Laboratories for the State Board
of Health, who explained the new
| treatment and reported the
progress which is being made
with it in other parts of the
state. Mr.. Straus stated that
during the last fall and winter
the State Board of Health has
supplied material for the treat
ment of more than 5000 children
and that the interest in the
treatment is increasing rapidly.
In describing the new treat
ment Mr.. Straus said that the
material which is used is known
as toxin-antitoxin but that it is
not to be confused with antitoxin
has already been in use for more
than thirty years. The new
treatment is injected in small
quantities and three injections at
intervals of one week are re-
quired. This causes a slow de-
velopment of protection against
diphtheria and the tull effect of
tile treatment is not obtained for
several months. The protection
that develops as a result of this
treatment is thought to be per-
manent and is known to last for
at least E years. This is very
different from the use of anti
toxin which is given in one
large and painful injection. The
effects OF antitoxin are immeGi-
atelv obtained but they are
quickly lost. The effect of a
dose of antitoxin does not last
more than three weeks.
Mr.. lStraus stated that this
treatment is especially valuable
for the little children who are
below school age, as diphtheria
is most dangerous for them. The
treatment with toxin-antitoxin
has shown itself to be effective
with them and. in many thous-
ands of cases which have been
treated, it has not caused any of
these little ones inconvenience.
Tie three injections which are
given to each child ars sufficient
to give complete protection
against diphtheria to eight or
nine children out of every ten
who are treated. Those who do
not get complete protection are
those who were in most danger
before treatment. Three in-
jections made them much less
likely to take diphtherla and
they can be completely protected
| with additional injections.
Mr.. Stratus explained that it
is now possible to tell whether or
not person can take diphtheria
if exposed to it. Tie test by
which this is determined is
known as the Schick test and is
one of the most satisfactory de-
velopments in tile fight against
diphtheria. l. rs known thai
nature provides protection tc
some of the older children so that
they are in no danger of catch
ing diphtheria. The Schick test
provides means by which the
physician can tell which children
are likely to catch the disease
and which are not in danger
The Schick test is made by in
ljecting a few drops of a cleal
| flush beneath the outer layer O
the skin of the arm. If tn
person is protected agains
diphtheria nothing appears at
tile point of injection. 1t TIL
lperson is not protected and i
| therefore likely to catch diph
liberia if exposed to il, a small
red spot appears at the site of in
Il lection and remains for a week O
more. 1t causes little or no dis
lcomfort and is in no way harm
Iful.
II 1t was decided that the treat
ment should be introduced irts
Rockingham County by tn
physicians and that the oppor
, tunity should be brought befor,
the people by offeriHg treatmen
in the Schools of Harrisonburg
; Consultation with the physician
lof Shenandoah County on tin
following date led to plans 70
Isimilar work in the Schools o
lStasburg, Woodstock, and New
Market. The physicians oifere'