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immunity does not develop immediately; it takes from 3 to 6
months.
The injections are given once a week for 3 weeks and then a
further series, if necessary, at the end of 3 months.
Although over two million injections have been given in New
York without any harm, yet there are on record three instances
where, owing to faulty technique and faulty preparation of a
toxin antitoxin mixture, serious results followed, leading to the
deaths of 11 children.
The toxoid antitoxin mixture used in London is of the highest
standard of excellence. No harmful effects have been observed in
the use of the mixture at the London centres. The method has
been found to be of inestimable value in protecting nurses who
work in the diphtheria wards of fever hospitals.
Incidence of Diphtheria.—The notifications of diphtheria
and the deaths from the disease in Finsbury for the last eight years,
1920-1927, are given in this present report.
The large number of notifications from 1 to 5 years and from
5 to 15 years will be noted, showing the increased prevalence of
the disease before school age and during school age.
The high case mortality is specially marked under one year
and from 1 to 15 years.
These conditions and inferences apply almost exactly in like
manner to the rest of the country, and show the desirability of
employing the Schick Test and conferring toxoid-antitoxin immunity
both before and during school age.
What is London Doing?— Work of the nature described has
been carried out in Holborn since 1922, in Camberwell and Westminster
since 1926. Schemes have been authorised by the Ministry
of Health for Battersea, Deptford and Hackney.
The statutory authority for the venture is derived from Sec. 77
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.