View report page

30
with this disease, as occasionally persons in apparently normal
health have been found to act as infective centres. Hitherto
very few specimens have been sent with this special object in
view, but should an epidemic again occur I trust full advantage
will be taken of this precautionary measure.
It is rare now for a case of diphtheria to be nursed at
home in this District, but when this is done, it is desirable to
have the same care exercised as in hospital, and not to permit
the patient to mix with others until the examination of at
least one swab taken during convalescence has proved the
absence of the typical bacillus.
For several years a supply of anti-diphtheritic serum lias
been kept at the Public Health Offices, and doctors have been
supplied with the same at cost price. In December 1905 the
Council agreed that the serum should be given free of charge
when required for use in a case where the means of the patient
did not enable him to pay for it. Advantage of this lias been
taken in 7 instances during the past year.