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DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN:- Early diagnosis and early treatment
with Antitoxin remain the greatest safeguards against mortality.
Medical practitioners should administer large doses of antitoxin
on suspicion of infection, and while awaiting bacteriological
confirmation of diagnosis. Otherwise suspected cases should
be admitted to hospital at once for observation. Diphtheria
Antitoxin is free of cost to all patients under the National
Health Service.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION:- The absence of cases of Diphtheria
within tho age groups subject to immunisation demonstrates the
value of this service. Immunisation against Diphtheria is
tho greatest co-operative effort in preventive medicine that
the nation has ever undertaken. There can be no relaxation.
The presence of cases outside tho protected age groups, and the
persistence of carriers of tho infection are warnings of danger.
Every parent must join in this effort for security from Diphtheria.
To ensure complete success every baby must have primary immunisation
not later than the first birthday. Reinforcement injection
is necessary every four years. If the child is to enter a
nursery school, roinforcement is desirable at the age of three
years. Every child should bo reinforcod before entry into day
school, and again before reaching the ago of nine years. A high
state of immunisation must be maintained.
During the year 1948, one thousand one hundred and
seventy-four children were immunised against Diphtheria. The
number immunised at the age of one year was 715, which represents
49 per cent of the babies reaching that age during the year,
compared with 42 per cent for this age group in 1947. One thousand
one hundred and seventy-six children received reinforcing injections.

At the end of the year, 9,991 children, representing
60,97 per cent of all the children, had been immunised. Of these,
2,939 represents 46.82 per cent of the child-en under 5 years of
age, and 7,052 represents 69.75 per cent of the children between
5 and 15 years of ago.
The Clinics for Diphtheria Immunisation are as follows,
1. At the Public Hall, No., 1. Hill Road, Sutton,
Every Friday, at 2 p.m.
2. At the Clinic, Priory Crescent, Cheam,
Every Monday, at 1.30 p.m.
3. At the Clinic, St. Oswald's Hall, Brocks Drive, North Cheam,
Every second and fourth Tuesday in the month, at 1.30 p.m.
4. At the Clinic, Parochial Rooms, The Broadway, Cheam,
Every Wednesday, at 1.30 p.m.
5. At the Clinic, Jubilee Institute, Maiden Green, Worcester Park#
Every first Monday in the month, at 1.30 p.m.
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