Turning pointy have a

Turning pointy have a

way of slipping by unnoticed. Their significance is often apparent only after years have passed.

But in 19(>8. a major turning point m modern medicine was immediately recognized when a vaccine to prevent "Rh disease'' was approved by the Federal Government.

For the first time in history, doctors have the means to prevent a majoi cause of birth defects The remarkably effective Rh vaecin^t railed ' RhoGAM." promises to eradicate a condition which each year threatens an estimated 40.000 babies with death or damage before or soon after birth - "The Rh vaccine is so important to potential parents and to the health of so many future children, no one can afford to nv-n look'i't.- s »liability," says Dr Virginia Apgar. vice president for medical affairs for The National Foundation-March of Dimes.

The voluntary health organization, which initiated a national campaign against birth defects ten years ago after the conquest of polio was assured, has undertaken an aggressive education program to inform the public about the new preventive for Rh disease Through radio, TV. magazines, newspapers and leaflets distributed at marriage license bureaus and other outlets, voung people are urged to have a doctor or clinic check their blood tor Rh factor identification

The Rh factor is a part of the blood which is found in about 85 per cent ot the population Those who have it are called Rh positive; those who don't are Rh negative Whether an individual has the Rh factor or nol makes no difference to his or her own Health But it can cause serious Rh disease in children if a mother is Rh negative and the father Rh positive

In such a case, if the unborn child inherits the father's blood type, the mother's system may react against the child she is cai rymg This rarelv occurs m a first preg-t