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into the system causes those after symptoms with which we are familiar, such
as paralysis and the like. From the satisfactory statistical evidence forthcoming
it is sincerely to be hoped that in the antitoxic serum treatment a
remedy has been found for this serious disease, and it is satisfactory to note
that the Metropolitan Asylums Boards have taken every step necessary
to ensure that right conclusions may be arrived at on this important
subject.
One thing, however, still remains to be done, and that is to give the Medical
Practitioners of a district facilities for knowing by Bacteriological examination
whether or not they are dealing with cases of Diphtheria; doubtless
many cases of sore throat of a Diptheritic nature escape notice for some
time, during which the patient may be infecting other persons. The
Local Government Board have recently made arrangements by which
Medical Officers of Health may obtain information of this nature in the
earlier cases of any given outbreak, but it is not the Medical Officers of
Health who want the facilities but the ordinary Medical Attendants in a
district. It is to be hoped the Metropolitan Asylums Boards will seek
legislative powers to carry out this useful work, for although from a certain
standpoint it is desirable to examine such cases before admission to the
Metropolitan Fever Hospitals, it is of greater importance from the point
of view of the prevention of disease to give facilities for such examination
in the case of ordinary sore throat with the view of isolating the case,
if diptheritic, at the earliest stage and thus by prevepting attendance at
school, and in other ways, seek to diminish the prevalence of this formidable
complaint.
Small Pox was notified 15 times, by the prompt removal of the cases
to Hospital and by the adoption of all proper measures the disease did
not spread.