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or distributing milk in the three farms situated within the district
were swabbed, with uniformly negative results. All the members
of the households affected and all contacts were swabbed, while I
personally attended Oakwood School and examined several hundred
children. Those with enlarged tonsils or adenoids and any defect
of the nose were swabbed, it being felt that there was more likelihood
of carriers occurring among that type of child. By this means, no
less than 11 carriers were discovered and isolated, while 4 other
carriers were notified by private practitioners. It is possible, of
course, that several of these persons may have suffered from diphtheria
at some earlier date, but there was no clinical evidence or
history to prove this theory. Finally, warnings and instructions
were issued through the medium of the local Press, ' 'Better Health,''
the Welfare Centres and the Health Visitors, while a vigorous campaign
advising immunisation was started. These measures were
undertaken, not for any "panic" purposes, but in the hope that
they would bring a realisation of the dangers of diphtheria before
the inhabitants of Southgate. As already noted, the outbreak
gradually subsided, the cases occurring in the latter part of November
being exceedingly mild.
The following particulars relate to the cases notified during the
year:—
Number of cases notified, 23. (Adults, 5; Children, 18.)
Number of cases removed to Hospital, 22. (95.7 per cent.)
Distribution into Wards:—
North-West Ward, 13.
North-East Ward, 2.
South, 3.
Middle, 5.
Carriers discovered, 19. (Adults, 2—oldest 48 years;
Children, 17—youngest 3 years.)
With such a comparatively small number of annual cases, it is
quite easy to swab all the members of the household affected together
with intimate contacts. This is now being done. Fifteen of the
carriers were removed to Hospital until three negative swabs had
been obtained. The remainder were isolated at home, the swabs
being taken by the family doctor or by the Public Health Department.