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Show You and Your Health By MORRIS FISHBEIN fcdilor. Journal of tho Amoric Modical Association, and of HfOjoio. fho Holtti M9uiw , The diphtheria carrier Is unquestionably un-questionably one of the moat im- - portant factors in spread of that - disease. Some time after they- have the disease, but frequently without ever manifesting aymp- . toms, diphtheria carriers get th -germs in th throat and thereafter thereaf-ter distribute them. Whenever the number of diphtheria diph-theria cases increases suddenly, publio health efficlala ar likely to suspct th presence of diphtheria diph-theria carriers, After a child has had diphtheria diphthe-ria he should not be allowed to play with other children until he has been pronounced free from the germs. Diphtheria germs can be carried for as long as 10 months in the throats of children who have recovered from the disease.. In more than 10 per cent of all cases of diphtheria grms can be found in the throat two weeks after all signs of the disease seem to have disappeared. In 1 per cent of cases, germs still are found four weeks after the children ar apparently well. Before he discharges patients from observation, the doctor should examine the throat and take specimens of the material therein, to determine whether germs still are present m If tho jo fin ) ro poroiotofifr, tt is necssary to treat the condition with active antiseptics or by other methods, to clear up the carrier condition. Infected tonsils are particularly likely to harbor diphtheria germs. In such eases removal of the tonsils usually will banish th germs. In other cases the throat is swabbed daily with a mild tincture tinc-ture of iodine, and nose and throat cleaned with hydrogen peroxide. Persistent treatment in most cases will clear up the carrier condition, usually within with-in several weeks. Antitoxin, while especially val-auble val-auble in controlling the symp- toms of diphtheria, is not especially es-pecially useful in clearing up the carrier condition. In that condition, condi-tion, remember, the child carries germs In his throat without being be-ing disturbed by such toxin or poison as the germ manufacturers, manufactur-ers, because he already has developed de-veloped in his blood the antitoxin anti-toxin to take care of these poisons. Remember, too. that diphtheria germs are located on the surface of the tissue and are not in Immediate Im-mediate contact with the blood. When diphtheria occurs In schools, orphan asylums and aim- liar institutions, it usually la nec-assary nec-assary in controlling the condition condi-tion to take cultures from every person in the group, to eliminate carriers as soon as possible. |