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and use, both as a prophylactic and as a curative
agent, of Diphtheria anti-toxin.
Anti-toxin is used both for the cure of persons who
have already contracted Diphtheria, and is also
administered to persons who have been exposed
to the infection of Diphtheria to prevent their
taking the disease. Most of the cases of Diphtheria
notified in this Borough are sent to the Fever
Hospital forthwith on being notified. In many
severe cases, however, it is desirable that no time
should be lost in the administering of anti-toxin,
and that the patient should have an injection immediately
on the medical attendant detecting the
disease. And the Board point out that the proper
administration of anti-toxin before removal to
hospital may go far towards preventing the attack
of Diphtheria from being fatal. The Board state
that it is desirable that the Poor Law Medical
Officers should be able to obtain from the Council's
store the anti-toxin they may require.
Anti-toxin has heen kept in ithe Public Health Department
of this Borough for many years for the use of
medical practitioners, but hitherto has only been
supplied on pre-payment. The consequence is that
it has very seldom been used for the poorer classes,
and its use has indeed been quite exceptional. If
it could be obtained without payment no doubt it
would be used very much more frequently. It will
be necessary to keep a larger stock, and there
should be facilities for medical men to obtain it
after office hours.
The great majority of the cases of Diphtheria which
occur are among the poorer classes, and I take it