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A copy of the above was sent to all medical men practising in the district,
whilst leaflets on the subject were distributed at the schools for children to
take home.
Local medical practitioners had been previously circularised as to the
virulence of the disease and were asked to give adequate doses of diphtheritic
anti-toxic serum to suspected cases whilst awaiting the result of the swab.
This has been done and many cases have received an early dose, but
unfortunately in a fair proportion of cases, medical men are called in after the
patient has been ill several days, and the diagnosis is only too apparent.
That diphtheria in its early stages or in a mild form is difficult of
diagnosis is perhaps shewn by the fact that a fair proportion of cases have
received antitoxin and from whom a negative swab has been obtained and
conversely no antitoxin is given and the swab proves positive.
On the other hand, swab results are not always reliable. If taken from
a case several days old and coming in contact with the superficial surface of
the false membrane only, the swab may be negative, and it may be positive
in a carrier suffering from follicular tonsillitis, etc.
The subject is interesting from a technical point of view, but it must be
borne in mind that the attending doctor must make his diagnosis upon clinical
evidence and must not rely wholly upon laboratory results.
The Council supply antitoxic serum in doses of 4000 units and 8000 units
free to medical men applying for it, and pay 3/6 for its injection. Both
serum and sterilised syringes are kept at the Town Hall and at the Fire
Station.
The Council supply swab outfits and the M.O.H. carries out the
necessary examinations in the Council's laboratory at the Town Hall.
Special arrangements are made in order that swabs arriving at the Town
Hall on Saturday afternoon or on Sunday are attended to.
The mother and all child contacts in the house infected are swabbed by
the M.O.H. at the Town Hall. Adults who are engaged in handling food, etc.,
and textile materials are also swabbed.
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