Diphtheria and Antidiphtheria Vaccination in Paris.
—This subject was discussed at a recent meeting of the National Academy of Medicine. In 1925, before widespread vaccination, 2,836 cases of diphtheria, 188 of which were fatal, were recorded. In 1950, when 92% of the school children were vaccinated, 164 cases of diphtheria, of which five were fatal, were recorded in Paris. Four of these deaths occurred in nonvaccinated children. The report stresses that, among the 3,231,578 vaccinations, no serious incident was noted.
Production of Antibiotics in France.
—France has begun to export, instead of import, antibiotics. In 1946, the amount of penicillin was 476 billion units; in 1947, imports fell to 251 billion units. Since 1948 there has been no importation, and since March, 1950, the production of penicillin has allowed export of 100 to 500 kg. per month. In 1946, 51 kg. of streptomycin was imported; and in 1949, 12,286 kg.;