DIPHTHERIA

Evening Star, Issue 16779, 6 July 1918, Page 12

DIPHTHERIA

THE CTILORAMINE VAPOR TREATMENT. DOCTORS DIFFER. l)r Brown, superintendent of the Southland Hospital, reported last month to tho local Hospital Board: The chioramine vapor treatment with a lamp brought down by the District Health Onicer has proved worse than useless in dealing with convalescent cases. That is one view of the now treatment of diphtheria "carriers" by Chloramine-T. l'iie. other and opposing view is supplied by Dr Watt, the District Health Officer aL Wellington. At the request of the department Dr Watt furnished a report on the subject in May. Tho following is an extract from that roj>ort : A series of oouervßtions on proved " carriers " has demonstrated the possibility of obtaining good results in diphtheria by making tho affected person inhale tho air of a room highly charged witJi the tine mist produced by breaking up a. column of disinfectant solution with a jet of high-pressure steam. Kvklence has also been furnished as to the value, of the procedure in the case of schools affected with diphtheria. During last year til© Mahora North School, Hastings, caused considerable anxiety, and the marked decrease in the disease there can with justice bo attributed to this treatment, inasmuch as diphtheria was continuously prevalent in Hastings for the remainder of the winter. The treatment was also carried out at the Hastings District School with satisfactory results, in these facts (particulars aro appended) there is sufficient to show that the inhalation treatment with Chioramine. T is a very valuable defensive measure in dealing with school epidemics of diphtheria, it was on this evidence that Dr O'Sullivan, chief officer of the Health Department for Otago and Southland, asked to be supplied with the apparatus for use in Southland. After procuring it he went to Invorcargil! and instructed the inspector how to use it. If Dr O'Sullivan had not taken these steps he would have been blame-able for holding back expert scientific knowledge.