View report page

7
(iv.) The uniform improvement in the result of
tracheotomy at each separate hospital.
(v.) The beneficial effect produced on the clinical
course of the disease.
Great stress is laid upon the paramount importance of
commencing the treatment early—if possible, not later than
the second day of the disease.
The opinion is again expressed that antitoxin serum is a
remedy of much greater value in the treatment of Diphtheria
than any other known.
In several instances I have obtained admittance of
Diphtheria patients into London Hospitals for treatment, which
kindness from the hospital authorities was much appreciated.
The Council's ambulance and attendants being lent for the
purpose of conveyance to London.
In only a few cases so far as I can ascertain has a
bacteriological examination been made. In the future I hope
more use may be made of the means provided by the Council
for verification of diagnosis in doubtful cases. This is an
important matter, inasmuch that infectious cases are liable to
be overlooked, and become unsuspected centres of infection :
on the other hand some are notified which may be nothing of
the kind, thus causing needless expense and anxiety, an
instance of the latter recently came under my notice: an outpatient
attending a general hospital was notified as suffering
from Diphtheria, he was able to take his food well, and being
surprised at the notification, consulted another medical man the
following morning, who failed to find any trace of Diphtheria.
The patient, a labourer, continued at his usual work.
It is much to be regretted that in some cases parents and
others having charge of children suffering from this disease