Mr. ROSTRON DUCKWORTHasked the Minister of Health whether any local authorities provide centres at which anti-tetanus serum is readily obtainable by medical practitioners; and whether, if such a policy meets with the approval of his Department, he will advise local authorities not making such provision to do so?
§ Sir K. WOODI am not aware that any local authorities have provided centres for this purpose, but in one or two cases sanction has been given by my Department under Section 133 of the Public Health Act, 1875, empowering an authority to provide temporary supplies of the serum for the poorer inhabitants of their district. As regards the last part of the question, I am advised that the serum is readily obtainable through ordinary trade channels, and that if it were stocked generally by local authorities only a very small proportion of their stocks would be likely to be used and the greater part would become inert and be wasted.