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42
9,504,000 units of antitoxic serum were administered to the
patients admitted during the year, the average dosage per head
being 18,000 units.
2. LABORATORY WORK.
449 bacteriological examinations of "swabs" for the identification
of the diphtheria bacillus were carried out at the Hospital,
as compared with 201 in the year 11926.
3. THE PREVENTION OF ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The mere isolation of cases of acute infectious disease, without
the very costly complete and thorough disinfection that
is necessary to destroy the causative organisms which, according
to the bacteriologists, are extremely tenacious of life over long
periods and under adverse circumstances, has failed to reduce the
incidence of acute infectious disease.
On the other hand, the mere disinfection of the immediate
surroundings of the patient, at the time that he comes under the
notice of the Public Health Department, is only touching the
fringe of the problem, and the long trail of infection, which has
occurred during the incubation period and in the early stages of
the disease, remains an open and potent danger. Apparently the
organisms of Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Measles and the other
acute infectious diseases, have no satisfactory natural pabulum
outside the human bod)', although they are able to maintain their
vitality for a considerable time under such circumstances.
In the case of Typhoid Fever the natural habitat of the
causative organism, outside the human body, has been attacked
with satisfactory results, but statistics show that prophylactic
inoculation during the war period has been responsible for a very
marked reduction in the incidence of this disease.
Very little evidence is required to prove the efficacy of vaccination
against Small-pox, and to-day, with the vaccination incidence
'declining, the incidence of Small-pox is markedly increasing.
To those versed in the science of immunology the only
economical way in which to stamp 'out acute infections
disease is by increasing the immunity of the members of
the community by improving their vitality and by the