View report page

( 15 )
ANTITOXIN.
Some cases were treated with Serum, and the
general opinion was favourable regarding it. but in
some cases neither Antitoxin nor anything else
seemed to have any influence on the disease. In
many cases the disease was so far advanced that it
was not thought of any use to use it, in fact, the
children were practically dying and lived only a few
hours after admission. In one case where the first
notes stated that the throat was very bad with
diphtheritic membrane on it. and there was discharge
from the nose, after two injections the report says,
"Throat much better, a quantity of membrane has
come away," and on the following day, "Throat
nearly clean." Another case where a. child aged 16
months had whooping cough also, the Antitoxin was
injected the second and third day after admission,
and on the fourth day there was certainly improvement,
on the evening of the fifth day there was a
relapse; the report says "Very bad: not apparently
likely to last long: diphtheritic membrane all over
the soft palate." Antitoxin was again injected with
decided relief; throat cleaner, but discharge from
nose and both ears on the following day. The child
eventually made a good recovery. In three adult
cases, two of which were followed by severe paralysis
of the throat and general weakness, the Serum was
injected with apparently very decided benefit. The
nursing staff were so convinced of the effect that
they requested, if they should be attacked with the