View report page

Diphtheria Immunisation is Worthy of an Extensive Trial.
It should be pointed out that the results obtained in Holborn from antidiphtheria
immunisation are not necessarily those which would be obtained from
the widespread practice of the procedure throughout the whole of the country. It
is a commonplace in the public health world that satisfactory statistics cannot be
compiled from a relatively small number of cases.
If we are to reduce the incidence of diphtheria further we are to
all intents and purposes forced to employ a method of this nature
and for this reason. Diphtheria is a very difficult disease to control;
it is spread mainly by healthy "carriers," that is to say, by healthy persons who
harbour virulent diphtheria bacteria chiefly in their throats or noses or both, these
bacilli are often passed on during the act of coughing or even loud speaking, or perhaps
for a very short distance by ordinary breathing, especially in the case of overcrowded
vehicles or passenger lifts, or by means of incompletely cleansed drinking
vessels or eating utensils placed in the mouth such as spoons, forks, etc.