Milford chronicle., 1926-06-18
CAMPAIGN AGAINST
SPREAD OF DIPHTHERIA
continued from frat Dags)

ACO0blHucQ l4Vm AAAe A&04
cooperation that should be obtained
in Kent and New Castle counties,
then there is every reason to believe
that the greater percentage OF chill
dren of Delaware will be protected
against diphtheria in the near fu-
ture.
Physicians from the Board of
Health met the physicians of Sussex
county at their medical meeting at
Millville and discussed the toxin
antitoxin campaign with them. 1t
was agreed that the Board of Health
should do all propaganda, obtain
consents from parents, do the Schick
tests, furnish all equipment and ma
terial and have nurses and physl-
clans present when the toXin-anti-
toxin injections were given. The
physicians of each town were to give
the three injections of the toXin-an-
titoxin after the Schick tests were
done. For this the physicians was to
receive a fee of $1.00 for the three
inoculations to be paid by the par
ents of the children taking the treat
ment."
The first Schick test, DR.. Sargent
SAID, were among the white and col
oreu schools OF LaureI, Seaford,
l1eorgetown and Milford schools
we're next, and the tests were also
gwen in institutions in Dover and IN
New Castle county. IN TWO OF the
towns measles broke out during the
interval from May to May 2S, so
that some children were unable TO
continue with the injections. Ar
rangements have aeen made to have
these children receive treatments
from the family phsician during the
summer.
1t is easily understood" said Dr
Sargent, "wnat might occur in an
epidemic of diphtnerla If it is taken
into consideration that such a large
percentage OF children are suscep'
nble. The statement has been maze
that there has not been much dlph
iberia in the state, but this is no
the case. The scattered cases have
been kept under control and con
facts watched closely so that an cpl
demic has been prevented. If the to
tai number OF cases throughout tn
state each year were In slnSl
town it would amount to an epldem
ic.
There is a marked difference be
tween antitoxin and toXln-antltoxl1
Antitoxin is used to treat case o
diphtheria or to produce protectlol
known as passive immunity in per
son known to be exposed to the dis
ease. The protection produced by an
titoxin takes effect in few hour
and is effective for approximately 81
weeks. It is only used when diph
liberia is known or suspected 10
nresent. The dose Of antitoXln
much larger than tOxin-antitox1n an
its administration is accompanied, l
most cases, by more or less const
tuional reaction. Toxin-antitoxin
given in three doses OF 10 drops
seyen-day intervals between each
the three doses. 1t is given in I'll
upper arm hypodermatically.
There is practically no reactlo
except locally at the point OF lnJe'
tion. At this point red spot appear
two or three days after the inocul;
tion. This area is not painful or sor
There is merely a slight tenoernei
that disappears in day or two: Il
Guiding the Schick test and the thr'
inoculations, over 1000 injection
have been done and in no case n
there been any sign of infection
omen wound. No child has been col
nelIed to lose any time at school b
cause of the tests or treatments.
DR.. Sargent will take up the wo
again in the fall, his present pla
being to start in New Castle a
take care of the children OF IL
county before going to Kent