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I am further directed to inform you that the
Medical Officer of Health has been instructed to
assist local medical practitioners (if desired) in
obtaining" bacteriological examinations and reliable
serum, and to give all the information that he may
be able to.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
James Bell,
Clerk to the Surbiton Urban
District Council.
Arrangements at that time were made with
the British Institute of Preventive Medicine for
bacteriological examination of suspected cases, and
for the supply of anti-toxin ; and I was further
directed that all cases unable to afford the necessary
payment, should be assisted free on application
made to me by the medical practitioner in charge
of the case. This offer has not been made use of
as it should be, with the result that, as I have
stated, cases have been notified that are not diphtheria,
and have been admitted to the Hospital
Wards. If instead of waiting- till a case seems to
be undoubtedly diphtheric, a swabbing were at once
sent for examination, the result would be known in
a few hours, and the case could be dealt with
accordingly. However, this facility is still available,
with the exception that, subject to the
approval of the Council, I purpose transferring the
examinations to the Clinical Research Association.