Anti-Toxin and Diphtheria.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6167, 24 January 1895, Page 1

Anti-Toxin and Diphtheria.

(LONDON HMES.) Last Friday Dr G. Sims Woodhead, Director of the Research Laboratories of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, delivered a lecture in the Exhibition Hall, Victoria Embankment, under the auspices of the British Institute of Public Health, on the anti-toxic serum treatment of diphtheria. Dr Woodhead pointed out that the method of treatment had nothing in common with either vaccination of smallpox or the tuberculine treatment of tuberculosis. The results of its adoption in Paris, Berlin, and Buda-Pesth had been most striking, and he urged the expediency, in view of the great mortality and suffering caused by diphtheria, of carrying on the treatment in this country and improving the method if possible. Lord Playfair, in moving a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said American scientists were very active in the dissemination of the new remedy, and it would be discreditable to this country if she were left behind. At Saturday's fortnightly meeting of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, a deputation headed by Lord Coleridge presented a memorial against a recommendation of the General purposes Committee for the acceptance of an offer of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons to supply anti-toxin serum for the treatment of diphtheria patients in the Board's hospitals on certain specified terms. Lord Coleridge, in supporting the memorial, said the antitoxin treatment was yet merely in the experimental stage, and many persons believed it might have injurious effects. After a long discussion, an amendment to the Committee's report postponing the consideration of the recommendation as,to anti-toiin for three months was negatived by 38 to 17 votes, and the report adopted.