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138
tioners it is desirable that emphasis should be laid on the importance
of prompt treatment by anti-toxin, and of the saving of life which
may thereby be effected.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) H. C. MONRO,
Secretary.
To the Clerk
to the Metropolitan Borough Council.
Upon the receipt of this communication and the Diphtheria Antitoxin
(London) Order, 1910, the following report was presented to the
Committee:—
"The Committee will, without doubt, remember that on 23rd
September, 1907, a report presented by them to the Council
contained the following : —
"We have considered the question of the supply of antitoxin
to medical practitioners for use in suspected cases of
diphtheria pending the reception of reports on the bacteriological
examination of swabbings taken from the patients'
throats. It has been frequently pointed out to the Committee
by the Medical Officer of Health, and also by medical
practitioners who have been communicated with in respect
of patients removed but afterwards found to be not suffering
from diphtheria, that it is very essential that patients should
be removed to the hospital as quickly as possible that they
may be treated with diphtheria anti-toxin, and to delay
removal, without anti-toxin treatment, in order to await the
result of the bacteriological examinations, might endanger
the lives of patients. The time taken at the Lister Institute
for a bacteriological examination averages twelve hours after
the delivery of the swabbing, and there is, of course, the
further delay in the receipt of the swabbings at the Public
Health Offices, and their dispatch to the Lister Institute.
Results are telegraphed or telephoned, but if diphtheritic
bacilli are found at least a day's delay in removal has
probably occurred, and further delay is also caused owing to
the fact that no bacteriological examinations are made of
Saturday afternoons or Sundays.