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34
Diphtheria.
The death-rate from diphtheria in Ealing was low
compared with that for England and Wales :
Mortality from Diphtheria.
Ealing 0.04 per 1,000 of population
England and Wales 0.13 ,, ,, ,, ,,
96 Great Towns 0.14 ,, ,, „ ,,
Anti-toxin is supplied free by the Council for administration
in necessitous cases. To avoid delay in the
administration of anti-toxin medical practitioners can
obtain a supply of anti-toxin at the Public Health
Department whenever it is required, the cost being
refunded when the patients are in a position to afford
it.
Medical practitioners can also have specimens
examined bacteriologically free of charge, no matter
what may be the circumstances of the patient. Further,
suspicious cases of the disease are taken into the Isolation
Hospital if the medical attendant considers
such procedure desirable. Thus every facility is
afforded to secure the early confirmation of the diagnosis
and the prompt administration of anti-toxin. During
the year anti-toxin was supplied free to the extent
of 26,000 units.
When cases of diphtheria are treated in the Isolation
Hospital they are not discharged until two successive
negative swabs have shown the absence of infection ;
likewise, when cases are nursed at home disinfection
is not carried out until negative swabs have been
obtained.