Florida Memory is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Archives and Records Management. The digitized records on Florida Memory come from the collections of the State Archives of Florida and the special collections of the State Library of Florida.

State Archives of Florida
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- State Archives Online Catalog
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- ArchivesFlorida.com
State Library of Florida
Related Sites

Description of previous item
Description of next item

Source
Description
Date
Creator
Format
Coverage
Topic
Geographic Term
The Dangerous Method
IN DEVELOPING protection, or immunity, against diphtheria by the dangerous method, the child acquires germs by coming in contact with people who have diphtheria or are carries of the germs of diphtheria. The number of germs the child acquires may not in most instances be sufficient to cause diphtheria, but even in a very small number of germs produce small amounts of toxin, which is absorbed from the child's throat and gets into his bloodstream. This circulating toxin which is carried to all parts of the body causes the child's tissues to react and produce antitoxin (a substance which protects him against diphtheria). The repetition of this process over a period of years enables a child to reach adult life with sufficient antitoxin in his blood to protect him against diphtheria. But this method is dangerous because there is no way of telling when the child may get an overwhelming number of germs and develop a severe and dangerous case of real diphtheria- in other words, it is an uncontrolled process.
The Safe Method
THE SAFE method of protecting the child against diphtheria is based upon our knowledge of the process by which immunity may be developed by the dangerous method just described. Instead of letting the germs grow and manufacture toxin in the body of the child, toxin is made by growing the germs in a laboratory. if the toxin thus produced is treated with formaldehyde is loses its harmful properties but still produces immunity (protection) when injected into the body. This product is known as diphtheria toxoid. Two doses of diphtheria toxoid given one month apart will protect in practically all children. It is a wise procedure to give the child the Schick test six months later to find out whether or not he is protected or needs more toxoid inoculations.
How Long Does This Protection Last?
MOST children who have been immunized are protected against diphtheria for the rest of their lives. Very rarely does a child lose this protection.
How Can I Tell Whether My Child Is Protected Against Diphtheria?
YOU can tell whether or not your child is protected against diphtheria by having your physician give him the Schick test six months after the last dose of toxin is given. This is merely a test to see whether or not the child has sufficient antitoxin in his blood to protect him against diphtheria. The Schick test is a simple and harmless test.
No Child need have Diphtheria
DIPHTHERIA
Can Be Prevented
FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
Title
Description
Creator
Source
Date
Format
Language
Type
Identifier
Coverage
Geographic Term
Thumbnail
Display Date
ImageID
topic
Transcript
The Dangerous Method
IN DEVELOPING protection, or immunity, against diphtheria by the dangerous method, the child acquires germs by coming in contact with people who have diphtheria or are carries of the germs of diphtheria. The number of germs the child acquires may not in most instances be sufficient to cause diphtheria, but even in a very small number of germs produce small amounts of toxin, which is absorbed from the child's throat and gets into his bloodstream. This circulating toxin which is carried to all parts of the body causes the child's tissues to react and produce antitoxin (a substance which protects him against diphtheria). The repetition of this process over a period of years enables a child to reach adult life with sufficient antitoxin in his blood to protect him against diphtheria. But this method is dangerous because there is no way of telling when the child may get an overwhelming number of germs and develop a severe and dangerous case of real diphtheria- in other words, it is an uncontrolled process.
The Safe Method
THE SAFE method of protecting the child against diphtheria is based upon our knowledge of the process by which immunity may be developed by the dangerous method just described. Instead of letting the germs grow and manufacture toxin in the body of the child, toxin is made by growing the germs in a laboratory. if the toxin thus produced is treated with formaldehyde is loses its harmful properties but still produces immunity (protection) when injected into the body. This product is known as diphtheria toxoid. Two doses of diphtheria toxoid given one month apart will protect in practically all children. It is a wise procedure to give the child the Schick test six months later to find out whether or not he is protected or needs more toxoid inoculations.
How Long Does This Protection Last?
MOST children who have been immunized are protected against diphtheria for the rest of their lives. Very rarely does a child lose this protection.
How Can I Tell Whether My Child Is Protected Against Diphtheria?
YOU can tell whether or not your child is protected against diphtheria by having your physician give him the Schick test six months after the last dose of toxin is given. This is merely a test to see whether or not the child has sufficient antitoxin in his blood to protect him against diphtheria. The Schick test is a simple and harmless test.
No Child need have Diphtheria
DIPHTHERIA
Can Be Prevented
FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
Why Should I Worry About Diphtheria?
DIPHTHERIA was formerly one of the leading causes of death among children. During the eighteenth century the disease spread over the United States in great epidemic waves, penetrating every community and leaving a terrible swath of devastation and death in its wake. No other disease struck such terror into the heart of the people. It was so inevitable, and so little could be done to save the suffering or even the life of the child. In some epidemics one-fourth of the children who developed the disease died.
DURING THE past quarter of a century our knowledge of the disease has become most complete and diphtheria has been brought under control. Many of our larger communities in which the disease was formerly rampant have not had a death from diphtheria in years. The control of diphtheria is one of the great triumphs of preventative medicine. But children still have diphtheria because parents do not avail themselves of moder preventative measures.
NO CHILD NEED HAVE DIPHTHERIA
What Causes Diphtheria?
DIPHTHERIA is caused by a specific germ called the diphtheria bacillus which grows in the nose and throat of the patient. While growing the germs incite a local reaction which is manifested by soreness, swelling, and membrane formation which imparts a whitish appearance to the throat. At the same time, the germ produces a powerful soluble toxin, or poison, which is absorbed from the throat and is carried in the blood stream to all parts of the body. It is this toxin which determines the systemic characteristics of diphtheria and constitutes the most frequent cause of death. For this reason a child with a sore throat, no matter how trivial, should be seen by a physician at once in order that he may be given anti-toxin to neutralize this circulating toxin if the physician suspects the condition to be diphtheria.
How Does Diphtheria Spread?
DIPHTHERIA is spread from persons infected with diphtheria germs by any means which will carry the germs in their nose and throat discharges to the nose and throat of an unprotected person. Infected persons may be sick with diphtheria or well persons may carry the germs in the nose and throat without symptoms of the disease. The latter group are known as "carriers" and may transit diphtheria just as readily as persons sick with the disease. Diphtheria bacilli disappear in about fifty per cent of the cases by the time the local membrane has disappeared from the throat. About five per cent remain carriers for a period of three months and approximately one per cent continue as chronic carriers.
How Can I Protect My Child Against Diphtheria?
NO CHILD need have diphtheria. It can be prevented by a simple, harmless treatment. Take your child to your physician and ask him to give him diphtheria toxoid. Every child should be given toxoid at nine months of age. He will then be protected when entering the period of his life when he is most susceptible to diphtheria and needs protection most. Diphtheria will be controlled only when every child has been protected by diphtheria toxoid.
What Is Diphtheria Toxoid and How Does It Protect Against Diphtheria?
DIPHTHERIA TOXOID is diphtheria toxin which has been rendered harmless by the action of a chemical known as formaldehyde. There are two methods by which protection against diphtheria may be acquired- these may be appropriately described as the dangerous method and the safe method.
Chicago Manual of Style
Florida State Board of Health. Diphtheria Can Be Prevented. 1950 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/297353>, accessed 7 February 2025.
MLA
Florida State Board of Health. Diphtheria Can Be Prevented. 1950 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/297353>
AP Style Photo Citation
(State Archives of Florida/Florida State Board of Health)
