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7
I may here state that Diphtheria anti-toxin has been provided
in this District free of charge in necessitous cases since 1900, when
a resolution was passed by your Council that the Sanitary Inspector
should keep a supply in readiness for use, medical men applying
for same as occasion arose for use where persons were too poor to
pay for it themselves.
In order to advise the medical men in the District of this Order,
and to remind them of the conditions under which anti-toxin is
provided, I addressed (with the approval of your Council) the
following circular letter to all the medical practitioners in the
District:—
“Dear Sir,The Diphtheria Anti-toxin (Outside London) Order, 1910.
“In view of the fact now generally recognised, viz., that
“in cases of Diphtheria—and more particularly in laryngeal
“diphtheria or membranous croup—the chances of the patient's
“recovery are vastly increased by the injection of anti-toxin
“at the earliest possible stage of the disease, the Chislehurst
“Urban District Council wish me to inform you that they
“intend at once to carry out the suggestions contained in the
“above Order.
“A stock of Diphtheria Anti-toxin will be kept at the
“office of the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. Powell, Church Row,
“Chislehurst).
“This will be for the injection of patients before they go
“to hospital and who are too poor to pay for so expensive a
“remedy themselves.
“Any qualified medical practitioner can obtain a dose or
“doses on giving the name and address of the patient for
“whom it is intended. In some cases it may be more con“venient
and may facilitate the early use of the remedy if the
“Medical practitioner uses his own anti-toxin and later on
“refunds it from the Council's store.
“It must be clearly understood that the early administra“tion
of anti-toxin shall in no way substitute prompt removal
“to the Isolation Hospital, but be an adjunct to such removal.
“This free provision of anti-toxin as above suggested
“applies to poor persons and also those who are in receipt of
“parish relief.”