Evening star., 1951-11-26
DUrges Nation
BE |mmuniized
For Lockjaw
Health Conference
Told Move Is Aimed
At Burn Treatment

Lockjaw immunization for the
entire population of United States
and its territories has been recon-
mended by the Federal Civil De-
fense Administration.
This was revealed today at the
50th annual conference of the
State and Territorial Health Of
ficers.
The recommendation to the con-
ference's civil defense committee
for consideration and later re-
ports to the entire membership.
The recommendation was based
on study by the subcommittee on
Burns of the National Research
Council last December, which con-
sidered what should be done to
aid in the care of mass casualties
suffering from burns. That body
recommended that universal wide
spread immunity to lockjaw
should be carried out.
Based on Several Points.
In urging action by the con-
ference, the Federal Civil Defense
Administration pointed out that
this action was based on a num-
ber of considerations. This in
cluded experience of the armed
forces in treating foreign civilians
and military casualties during
World War II, chiefly in Europe.
The study pointed out the rela-
tive ease and safety of tetanus
Qockjaw) immunization as con-
trasted with the often difficult and
time consuming administration Of
Itetanus anti-toxins in a fairly
large number of sensitized indi-
viduals.
The conference. which is to
run four days at the Federal
Security Agency. opened this
morning and is attended by more
than 100 delegates.
Fifth of Hospital Beds.
The Federal Government is now
spending more than SITS billion
on health and hospital programs.
Elmer B. Stats, assistant director
Of the Budget Bureau. told the
conference. He pointed out that
the Federal Government operates
nearly 20 per cent of all the hos
pital beds in the United States.
This includes those of the Vet
erans' Administration, the military
departments, the Public Health
Service and the Indian Service, he
Explained.
DR.. Leonard A. Scheele, surgeon
general of the Public Health Serv-
ice. told the group:
"Of all the economic problems
which plague cur health agencies,
probably the most difficult and
!. the most frustrating is the Short
age of trained personnel.
Babies Dying Needlessly.
Call of us-Federal, State and
local agencies-have a RESPONSE
bility within our own organiza-
tions to develop good training pro-
grams-if we are to have health
Imanpower with the kinds of skill
| and experience our program re-
| quires."
DR.. Martha " Eliot. chief. Chill
dren's Bureau, told the confer
ence:
! Babies are dying needlessly in
many places, particularly in the
southwest and Southeast. They
are dying not only because doc
tors. hospitals and health services
are scarce. They are dying be-
cause family incomes are too low
to buy proper food and other
things the family needs, or be-
cause sanitation is Inadequate"
I She said that "a pilot study Of
the mortality of premature in
fants under different types of
care is now going on in Mary
'Iland."
She said that Maryland can be
proud of the current improved
program of health and medical
Ifollowup care for school-age chill
dren in Hagerstown and WASH
ington County and suggested
similar projects be undertaken in
other States.