An Outbreak of Diphtheria checked by Prophylactic Use of Antitoxin, and the Isolation of Infected Persons

Abstract

Towards the end of October 1900 the Sanitary Authorities of Cambridge and Chesterton found themselves face to face with a serious outbreak of diphtheria; the first official notification had been on October 14th, and by October 23rd eleven cases had been notified, of which four terminated fatally, on October 15th, 21st, 22nd and 26th respectively. These four were all children attending the Infants' Department of a certain Higher Grade School, and the other seven cases were either children of this school or persons closely associated with them.