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the child's throat or a croupy cough develops; prompt treatment
is not only essential to the patient, but would be economical from
a financial standpoint: not only does a missed case of diphtheria
frequently infect others, but delay in treatment involves a large
dose of antitoxin. In the next place medical men should not wait
for a definite bacteriological diagnosis before sending a patient to
the Hospital, as success in treatment depends upon antitoxin being
administered at the outset of the disease, and it is important there
should be no delay in the use of this remedy. Antitoxin has been
for some years supplied free to medical men, and can always be
obtained at the Health Department in the Council Building.
The following leaflet is left at the house in any case not removed
to the Isolation Hospital.
Home Case.
Children from this house must not attend day or Sunday
School until permission is given by the Medical Attendant.
All cases of "sore throat" or "lumps in the neck" occurring
in the household are probably diphtheric, and should be
immediately reported to your Medical Attendant.
Public Library Books must be taken to the Health Department,
Council Offices, New Maiden, and no books borrowed
until the house has been disinfected.
If treated at home the patient must be confined to one room,
and no one except the person in charge allowed to enter the
room. All unnecessary furniture should be removed from the
sick room forthwith, and the floor and furniture should be
frequently wiped with a damp cloth. Fresh air must be freely
admitted, a fire being lighted if necessary.
Attendants should wear washable dresses, should wash their
hands immediately after attending the sick person, and should
always wash their hands and faces and change their shoes and
outer clothes before going off duty.
No domestic animal should be allowed to enter the sick
room.
A patient suffering from this disease is generally dangerous
to others for a period of at least three weeks, and must not be
allowed to mix with other people during that period, or while
there is any sore throat, or any discharge from ear or nose,
or while diphtheria germs can be detected in the throat.