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39
Swabs of the secretion of the throat or nose are taken in three sets of circumstances
for bacteriological examination—
1. In order to verify the diagnosis of diphtheria at the earliest moment.
2. In order to ascertain that a patient is free from diphtheria bacilli before
release from isolation.
3. In order to obtain information whether apparently healthy contacts
are harbouring diphtheria bacilli in the throat or nose.
Infectious diseases fall into several categories—
(a) Compulsorily certifiable diseases.
(b) Temporarily certifiable diseases, e.g., chicken-pox when small-pox
is present.
(c) Non-certifiable diseases—
(d) Communicable Diseases notifiable by School Teachers, e.g.,
measles, whooping-cough, mumps, tonsilitis.
(it) Communicable Disorders notifiable by School Teachers, e.g.,
ophthalmia (blight), ringworm, impetigo, scabies, pediculosis.
("0 Suspicious Symptoms, e.g., sore throat, feverish cold, whooping,
vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, &c.