The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-08-29
BY Loss1 GlsouennInq, N. o.

. qANoNtoiAo VI bILCldl lhLSiNsh
only, and then only through
his column.
because there were no deaths from
diphtheria in the United States.
This is probably the most i'm
portant medical event of the dec
ade. 1t throws the sulfa drugs
and penicillin into the shade. 1t
is a truly epoch-making advance.
II you had told a practitioner of
medicine in 1890 that such result
was going to be accomplished he
would not have believed one word
Of it, even a then up-to-date
practitioner who was in the van
guard of progress on the then new
germ theory and all it would ac-
complish for the human race.
l select the year 1890 because
that was just before diphtheria
antitoxin for treatment was intro
duced. At that time the average
death rate from diphtheria was
so per 100000 in the United
States. The curative value of
diphtheria antitoxin cut the death
rate until by 1920 it was Is per
100000.
Diphtheria Treatment
That was the first great step
in diphtheria control. 1t was due
to effective means of treatment
after diphtheria had invdded.
The second great step was in
prevention Of diphtheria, so that
nobody would catch it and that
was by the use Of diphtheria tox-
old. This can be said to have been
begun about 1920. 1t was then
that health departments began a
systematic campaign Of preven-
ton in children of the pre-school
age.
See what this second step-the
preventive step-has accomplish
ed. In 1920 the mortality was Is.
By 1880 it was 5. By 1910 it was
less than one per 100000 of the
population. And in 1912 it was
zero. No wonder the practitioner
OF 1890 would regard such a mir
acle as impossible.
The result has been accom-
plished not by any sudden discov-
cry in science, but by the patient
education of the public, so that
they would accept the enforce
ment Of this health measure on all
children not only graciously but
gratefully.
Enforcement is the rule now
and one might say that an article
such as this addressed as an ap-
peal to parents to be sure their
children are protected before they
first enter school is unnecessary
because health officers will take
the job off their hands. and do it
anyway. But in answer to that it
must be recognized that eternal
vigilance is the price Of safety.
When the danger has been re-
duced to almost nothing, indiffer-
ence begins and even active OPP
position. But the germs of diph-
liberia do not relax vigilance.
Hiding in some carriers throat
. or nasal secretions, they lie ready
to break out at the slightest sug-
gestion of letting down the bars.
In some states the carrier rate il
8 per cent of the population.
Besides for the education of the
parents it is necessary because
the danger of diphtheria is great
est in the pre-school ages so per
cent of cases occur in those under
5 years Of age. No age, however,
is completely immune. The recon-
mendation of most authorities,
based on wide experience is that
the best time fo- diphtheria tox-
old prevention is between six
months and one year of age. The
babies stand it even better then
than later. Although, indeed, there
is little to stand because reactions
to the toxoid are infrequent, To-
cal and mild, although some fever
and malaise may occur on the
day following the innoculations,
especially in older children.