London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Holborn 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]

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Diphtheria in Hospitals.

Hospital.Cases Notified.Disease Notified asHolborn Cases.Non-Holborn Cases.Total.
Staff.Inpatients.Clinical.Carrier.
A.5596465864

Diphtheria Contacts.

Contacts swabbed.Positive Results.Contacts positive.
Ear only.Nose only.Throat only.
First Examination694818*
Second ,,6112
Third „2-II†

* 2 positive contacts removed to L.C.C. Fever Hospital.
+ 1 removed to L.C.C. Fever Hospital.
The parents or others in charge of children harbouring diphtheria bacilli were
given written directions as to the precautions necessary.
The results of the examinations of child contacts were communicated to the
School Medical Department of the London County Council so that children
harbouring diphtheria bacilli could be kept from school providing there was no
evidence that the organisms were avirulent
Diphtheria antitoxin was available free of charge on application by medical
practitioners. 59,000 units were supplied for three cases, two of these being for
prophylaxis.
Diphtheria " Carriers." Information was received from the School Medical
Officer (L.C.C.) of four children excluded from school as suspected diphtheria
" carriers."
The Schick Test and Immunisation against Diphtheria.
This work has been carried on since 1922 at the Council's Maternity and
Child Welfare Centre, 10, John Street, on Wednesday afternoons.
Enquiries as to the effect of the testing and inoculation on the individual were
made as a routine; we are able to record that any disturbance caused was
negligible. The use of toxoid antitoxin does away with the risk of fatality incurred
by using imprope ly-made toxin untitoxin.