SCHICK TEST.
WIPING OUT DIPHTHERIA. (From Ocb Own Coebbspondbnt.) SYDNEY, January 3. To the flippantly-minded, the Schick test suggests a test of one’s capacity for consuming much liquor—for getting “shick,” in good Austra-liane.se. But it is nothing of the sort. It is a test for determining one’s susceptibility to diphtheria. It was applied, with interesting results, by the Slate Health Department during the year. It has been found that, at two years of age, 70 per cent, of children are susceptible to the disease, but that this susceptibility decreases until at adult ago only 12 per coni, of persons are liable to contract it. By means of the injection into the skin or a minute quantity of toxin it was possible to determine whether any person was susceptible or immune. Diphtheria has taken a heavy toll of the community. In 1912 there were 200 deaths; in 1913, 323; in 1914, 259; in 1915. 275: in 1916. 321; in 19X7, 250; in 1912. 239; in 1920, 264; in 1921, 506: in 1922, 207; and for the 11 months of 1923, 115. If is believed that if the application of flic principle of testing could be enforced, diphtheria might be practically wiped out in the State. But at present these measures can Vie carried out only with parental consent, and, as is known, the public are somewhat distrustful of anything involving inoculation.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 19067, 12 January 1924, Page 15
Word Count
230SCHICK TEST. Otago Daily Times, Issue 19067, 12 January 1924, Page 15
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