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length of time which has elapsed before the treatment is commenced.
This, though doubtless true of other methods, is of still greater
moment in the case of treatment by antitoxin.
" Certain secondary effects not infrequently arise as a direct
result of the injection of antitoxin in the form in which it has at
present to be administered, and even assuming that the incidence of
the normal complications of diphtheria is greater than can be
accounted for by the increased number of recoveries, we have no
hesitation in expressing the opinion that these drawbacks are
insignificant when taken in conjunction with the lessened fatality
which has been associated with the use of this remedy.
" We are further of the opinion that in antitoxic serum we possess
a remedy of distinctly greater value in the treatment of diphtheria
than any other with which we are acquainted."
The same difficulty was experienced during the last half
of the year by the Metropolitan Asylums Board in finding
sufficient accommodation for diphtheria patients, so that it is
satisfactory to know that a considerable proportion of the
additional accommodation now being provided is for diphtheria
patients.
Enteric Fever. — Two cases were notified. There was one
death from this disease. In London there were 3,710 notifications
of this disease, and 596 deaths. The case of typhoid
fever that died had only recently come to London from
Norfolk, where the disease was probably contracted. The
tenement where the other case lived was very dirty, and the
cistern supplying it was also dirty, and covered in parts with
a foul slime.
It has recently been proved by English and French
observers that the urine of patients suffering from typhoid
fever nearly always contains the typhoid bacillus (Eberth's
bacillus). It is therefore most important that the urine