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instructions from the Minister of Health before sending
patients away for treatment.
6. The following is a brief summary of the principles
which should guide a Medical Officer of Health in recommending
specific anti-rabic treatment:—
(a) There should be evidence that the bite penetrated
through the skin and caused bleeding.
(b) Treatment should be strongly urged on all persons
who have been bitten by animals which are, in the
view of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,
affected with Rabies.
(c) As regards persons bitten by animals captured and
killed or kept under observation, in which there is
no clinical or post-mortem evidence of Rabies, treatment
should as a rule be deprecated as unnecessary.
(d) As regards the treatment of persons bitten by untraced
stray dogs or other animals, distinction
should be made between—
(i) Cases occurring in areas scheduled by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries where
presumably there is greater risk of the dog
being rabid: to cases in this category treatment
should be recommended.
(ii) Those occurring outside such areas: here treatment
might be suggested but not pressed.
7. When, after consideration of all the circumstances of
the case, and after communicating with the Minister of
Health as above advised, the Medical Officer of Health is
satisfied that anti-rabic treatment is essential, he should
advise the patient accordingly. Arrangements for anti-rabic
treatment may be made with Professor Dudgeon, Department
of Pathology, St. Thomas's Hospital, Westminster Bridge,
London, S.E.I.
It should be understood that the hospital does not, except
by special arrangement, provide intern accommodation for
patients undergoing anti-rabic treatment.
8. The Medical Officer of Health should follow the same
procedure in dealing with cases occurring in any H.M. Services
of which he receives notification.
9. In any case where the Medical Officer of Health is
satisfied that a person who needs anti-rabic treatment cannot
pay for the treatment or stay in London at his own expense
for the two or three weeks necessary for the completion of the
course, he should at once represent the matter to the Council
or to the Chairman of the Council in order that the funds
required may be provided by the Council. The Minister of
Health is prepared t sanction reasonable expenditure
incurred by the Council for this purpose.
10. Attention may again be drawn to the importance of
securing all possible expedition in the above procedure.