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139
"\We are advised that it is an important element in
the suscessful treatment of diphtheria with anti-toxin that
the injection should be made as early as possible, and the
Medical Officer of Health considers that, if there is reasonable
suspicion that the case is one of diphtheria, an injection
of anti-toxin should be at once made.
" In view of the loss, inconvenience and suffering
occasioned by the erroneous notification and removal of
patients not suffering from the disease notified, we are of
opinion it is desirable that anti-toxin should be supplied, at
the discretion of the Medical Officer of Health, for use pending
receipt of results of bacteriological examinations in cases
where such provision cannot otherwise be made. We are
assured no ill results follow from injections of the anti-toxin
in cases which are subsequently, found to be not true cases
of diphtheria.
"The Committee recommend :—
"That the Medical Officer of Health be authorised to
supply at his discretion diphtheria anti-toxin, free of
charge, to medical practitioners for use in cases of
suspected diphtheria in the borough, pending receipt of
result of bacteriological examinations, or where patients
are too ill to be removed.
" To which there was an amendment:—
"To omit all words after the words that the in
order to insert there these words : ' Council declines to
enter into competition on an nnfair basis with purveyors
of drugs and related preparations, and emphatically refuses
to relieve medical practitioners of their natural responsibilities.'
"The amendment was adopted by the Council."