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11
our own experience during the year has been that collecting
a large number of children together in one
school is calculated to give rise to sudden outbreaks
of the disease; therefore to have the facility for
removing such cases at once is most important. In
caring for sufferers from this disease I have been
much impressed with the great necessity of plentiful
air space for each case and due means of ventilation.
A moderately mild case may become a malignant one
under the influence of improper surroundings. The
air of a ward that has a very bad case of diphtheria,
smelling most offensively, may become infected. Sir
Richard Thorne, Medical Officer of the Local Government
Board, has said—"How common it is to find
the bacillus diphtheria on the faucial mucous surfaces
of nurses and other attendants in diphtheria wards."
Of course, a nurse must of necessity be brought
into close contact with such a patient when attending
to the throat, may have particles of the membrane
coughed into her face; but the atmosphere must also
become infected and the currents of air convey the
germs, hence the necessity of sufficient space between
the patients.
ANTITOXIN SERUM.
There will be seen among the expenses a sum of
£12 11s. 6d. for Antitoxin Serum. I have made
great use of this means of treatment, being convinced
of the value of it, especially when able to be used
early in the disease.