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desirability of the London County Council considering the question
of instituting similar prophylactic clinics.
It is an accepted fact that people now-a-days look for a lead
from those whose duty it is to look after the public health, and
are well aware of the advantages to be derived from taking an
intelligent interest in matters affecting their well-being. I am
convinced, therefore, that if the London County Council were to
adopt a similar scheme of treatment it would secure the immunisation
of a large number of susceptible children attending school,
and further, would act as a stimulus to parents to have their
children treated before they reach school age.
The procedure at the clinic is as follows: —
Children are admitted separately with parents, or in families,
and on receiving authority from the parents to have the work
undertaken, the arms are bared and cleansed thoroughly.
0.2 c.c. of Burroughs Wellcome diluted diphtheria toxin is
then given intradermically into the skin of the left forearm, and
0.2 c.c. of heated toxin as a control into the skin of the right
forearm.
People Schick-tested are requested to come back the following
week, when readings are taken.
Positive readings are then told to bare the shoulder to expose
the deltoid region fully. The skin in this area is thoroughly
swabbed with iodine solution, in the case of a child, 1 c.c. of
toxoid anti-toxin mixture is then injected intramuscularly into
the deltoid and the site of injection afterwards touched with
iodine. Patients are requested to come up weekly until they have
had three full doses, and are then asked to come up again at the
end of three months for re-testing.