Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-10-31
DIPTHERIA GIVING
MARYLAND CONCERN
DR.. r. III. Riley, Health Chief,
Suggests Preventative
Measures

Outbreaks Of diphtheria in differ
ent parts of the State since the open
ing OF the schools in September, have
focused attention on the Importance
o. ,4mmunizing children against diph-
liberia so that they may be protected
against this dread disease.
Figures given out by Dr. r. H. Ri
ley, Cnlef or the Bureau OF Communi-
cable diseases OF the State Depart
ment OF Health, show that during the
first six weeks after the schools were
opened this fall, 1873 cases of diphthe-
ria were reported in contrast with SO
cases during the corresponding period
in 1924. "Diphtheria is one of the
diseases in which we cannot afford to
take any chances" said DR.. Riley. The
germs are spread from the throat and
nasal discharges of person who is
ill with diphtheria, or who is car
rier' of diphtheria germs. Carriers
are persons who though not sick them
selves, carry the germs in their noses
and Threats, and transmit the disease
when coughing or sneezing.
When suspicious case of sore
throat, Group, or tonsilitis occurs,
time should not be wasted on home
remedies, but a doctor should be sent
for at once, so that antitoxin may be
administered without delay. Just as
any upt-o-date fire department keeps
supplies of fire fighting materials at
central depots, so the State Depart
ment of Health has supplies of diph-
liberia antitoxin at easily accessible
centers throughout the State, and no
home in the State is more than three
or four hours distance from one Of
these supply depots. Before the use of
antitoxin was discovered, the disease
was fatal to one out of every two
children stricken. Now prompt treat
ment with antitoxin, will nearly al
ways save the life of the child,-but
delay, even of few hours is danger
GUS.
"In addition to giving antitoxin t.
the patient, the family physician, or
il he cannot be reached, the local
health officer, gives smaller doses
protective doses-to the persons who
are nursing the patient, or who have
come in contact with him. The SINAI
Ter dose of antitoXin protects the per-
son temporarily, only,-that is for a
period of from two to three weeks.
After that, the immunity, as we call
such protection, wears off.
"But we have a method of protect
ing or immunizing against diphtheria
SO that the immunization will last for
a period Of years. For this complete
immunization different substance is
used = toxin-antitoxin - it is called
AS practically all children under IL
are susceptible to diphtheria, it is nc
longer considered necessary to give
the children susceptibility test, but
time is saved by going right ahead
with the treatments. The immuniza
ton clinics that have been held in the
schools in Baltimore city and in many
of the county schools, have been based
on this knowledge. Three treatments,
given at intervals of week apart,
are necessary to complete the treat
ment-with a test at the end of six
months to see whether or not the
treatments have beel effective.
ut is better to protect the children
against diphtheria than lie them run
the risk Of getting the disease. You
are not only protecting them against
the disease, the suffering and anxiety
that come with it, but against the
dangerous after-effects which usually
follow the catching diseases of early
childhood-damage to eyes and ears,
to the heart and to the kidneys.
County Commissioners and County
Boards of Education will be rendering
untold service to their communities by
providing the means which makes
this protection of the children pos
sible."