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Diptheria.
39
titioners in the diagnosis of diphtheria. A laboratory
situated locally enables the examination of the swab
to be made within a much shorter time than formerly,
and an earlier report on the diagnosis to be given. The
examination of these specimens is free, no matter
what the circumstances of the patient may be.
To avoid delay in the administration of antitoxin,
which holds out the best chance for the patient, medical
practitioners can obtain a supply at the Public Health
Department whenever it is required. For this antitoxin
cost price is charged to the patient, but where the
circumstances are necessitous, no charge is made.
During the year 18,000 units of antitoxin were supplied.
When cases are nursed in the Isolation Hospital,
they are not discharged until two successive reports of
freedom from diphtheria bacilli have been received from
the laboratory. So also in cases nursed at home,
disinfection is not carried out until two successive
negative results have been obtained to show the patient
free from infection.
Thus the Council provide the means of assisting the
medical practitioners in the early diagnosis of the disease,
in the early administration of the specific treatment,
and also in determining when the patient may be considered
safe to mix with other members of the community
without danger of causing infection.