36. Dr. VERNON DAVIESasked the Minister of Health if he will issue a circular to all local authorities pointing out that, in view of the difficulty of diagnosing diphtheria and the desirability of immediate treatment, it is advisable for medical practitioners to notify suspicious cases without waiting for the results of bacteriological examination, even though, as a consequence of this practice, a percentage of cases eventually prove to be non-diphtheritic?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe difficulty in giving effect to the suggestion of my hon. Friend is that the obligation on medical practitioners under the Infectious Disease (Notification) Acts is to notify patients actually suffering from infectious diseases. I could not accordingly issue such a circular as he suggests without an alteration of the law.