THE APPLICATION OF THE SCHICK TEST 457 



mixture, it is always advisable to give them an inoculation of anti- 

 toxin, which will produce an immediate immunity for a short time. 



The application of the Schick test. By means of the Schick tests 

 it is possible to determine which individuals possess immunity to 

 diphtheria and which individuals are susceptible, that is, are likely 

 to contract diphtheria if exposed to the germs. If a child is 

 found to be susceptible, he is rendered immune by injections of 

 toxin-antitoxin. This stimulates the body to produce its own 

 antitoxins and thus establish an active immunity. 



The Schick test and the subsequent inoculations are invaluable 

 in checking diphtheria. The reason for the presence of diphtheria 

 to-day is probably because the inoculations are given to school 

 children instead of children of pre-school age. The susceptibility 

 to diphtheria is very low at birth, but it increases gradually until 

 the individual is two or three years old, and then it starts to 

 decrease. Probably not more than 12 per cent of adults are 

 susceptible to the disease. Since the Schick test indicates the 

 individuals who are not immune, preventive treatment, in the 

 form of toxin-antitoxin, may be given to them. 



Diagnosis. The correct diagnosis of diphtheria plays a very 

 important part in its control. Not only does the safety of the 

 community depend on the detection and isolation of cases of diph- 

 theria, but the early recognition of the disease diminishes the 

 mortality because treatment is also earlier. The only dependable 

 means of diagnosis is the microscopic examination of cultures 

 obtained from the throat and nose. 



Prevention. Diphtheria has been responsible for the deaths of 

 so many children that health authorities are trying to prevent the 

 disease by completely eradicating it. If all school children should 

 receive the Schick test and be immunized by the toxin-anti- 

 toxin method, very few diphtheria cases would be found. This 

 can only be made possible through an educational campaign, by 

 means of which the people will understand the danger and char- 



WH. FITZ. AD. BIO. 30 



