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137
The arrangements with respect to the keeping, distribution and
use of the diphtheria anti-toxin are to be made in accordance with
the advice of the medical officer of health, and having regard to the
importance of the matter, I am to suggest that, at an early date)
the Council should consider, with their medical officer of health,
what arrangements should be made for the provision of anti-toxin,
and for its use both as a prophylactic and a curative agency.
In cases in which a patient is under the care of a medical
practitioner, the latter should, in ordinary circumstances, be the
person to administer the anti-toxin. In considering the matter the
Council should take into special account the possible requirements
of the poor law medical officers, as it appears to the Board to be
desirable, where the Council avail themselves of the powers now
given them, that the poor law medical officers should be able to
obtain from the store of the Council the anti-toxin which they may
require from time to time for use in connection with patients under
their care.
To prevent misapprehension it should be observed that the
free provision of diphtheria anti-toxin which is authorised by the
Order must not be regarded as a substitute for removal to hospital
of a patient suffering from diphtheria, nor as implying that the
patient to whom the anti-toxin has been administered may properly
be retained for treatment at home, unless means are available for
his efficient isolation to the satisfaction of the medical officer of
health.
The prompt administration of anti-toxin before the patient is
removed to hospital may, especially if delay in removal is inevitable,
go far towards preventing the attack of diphtheria from being fatal.
By Article II. of the Order the duties of the medical officer of
health are to be deemed to extend to and include all action by the
medical officer of health in the execution of the Order, and
Article III. provides for the payment by the Council to the medical
officer of health of reasonable compensation for such action taken
by him.
The arrangements which the Council may make for the supply
of diphtheria anti-toxin should be brought to the knowledge of all
medical practitioners practising within their jurisdiction ; and in
any circular letter which the Council send out to medical