The Shick Plan, Which Promises immunity for All It has been demonstrate ed by the Department of Public Health of Massachusetts that diphtheria can be exterminated. This merely confirms a view that has been forced upon the medical profession in the jast two or three years, and it is confirmed by the experience of a few other States, principally by that of New York.
There are school districts in Boston, such as the William Lloyd Garrison District, which are learning by their own experience that diphtheria can be prevented. Several cities in Massachusetts have caught the "vision" of this possibility and are applying themselves with enthusiasm to the task of ejecting diphtheria.
The latest of communities to take up the gauntlet is Holyoke, which entered into the fight in earnest this week, and the first city in the Commonwealth to give the matter a fair trial was Lynn. Cambridge has made notable progress. Newton has been in the limelight of the medical profession for some time because of the way it has handled its diphtheria situation. The other cities and towns that have taken up the work are Northampton. Chicopee, Springfield, Easthampton, Bingham, Brockton, Winchendon, Lawrence, Somerville and Waltham, The campaign has gained momentum. It is spreading fast, and there is enthusiasm among the workers over the prospects.
At present there are apr mately 500 deaths from diphtheria annually in Massachusetts. Dr. Bernard W. Carey, director of the division of communicable diseases of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, made the statement this morning that he is convinced that inside of five years there will not be more than 100 deaths a year in the State from that cause.
In fact, there is no more reason now that there should be diphtheria in the community than that there should be dirty streets and alleys. Both can be prevented, and both will continue only as long as they are tolerated by the public.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.