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50
For this purpose classes were examined on 136
occasions. In addition the homes of the children stated to
be absent on account of sore throat or other doubtful
infectious disease have been visited.
The facilities thus offered have been appreciated by the
parents, the nurses are frequently called in to see children
who have doubtful symptoms, and by these measures,
several cases have been discovered early and medical treatment
obtained.
Free use is made of swabs for bacteriological diagnosis
of diphtheria. Fifty-nine swabs from doubtful throats were
taken by the School Medical Staff, either at the schools, at
the school clinic, or at the homes of children, and 21 of
these were found to contain the bacillus of diphtheria.
Routine examination of swabs from the throats of
home contacts with diphtheria, prior to return to school,
has not been undertaken.
No restriction is placed on the use of swabs by medical
practitioners, and diphtheria anti-toxin has been freely
available, a charge only being made in cases where the
patients were considered to be able to pay the cost price.
Disinfection has been carried out by spraying rooms
with formaldehyde solution and soaking the bedclothes in
disinfectant solution. Removal of bedding, etc., for steam
disinfection in the Washington-Lyons disinfector, has been
carried out after small-pox, typhoid fever, home cases of
scarlet fever and diphtheria, and advanced cases of tuberculosis.
The services of the nurse appointed by the Council to
nurse cases of epidemic disease in the patients' own homes,
have been of great value. This has been noted especially
in connection with measles, ophthalmia neonatorum and
pneumonia.