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46
The incidence of the disease was highest in the Latchmere,
Church and Winstanley Wards, where the standard of living and
the housing accommodation are generally much below the average
for the Borough, these wards contributing 53.3 of the total cases
notified.
The facilities provided by the Council for the bacteriological
examination of swabs from suspected cases of diphtheria are freely
availed of by medical practitioners practising in the Borough.
Anti-toxin is also supplied free of charge, and may be obtained on
personal or written application by doctors at any hour of the day
or night at the Town Hall.
In the chart facing this page are shown the incidence and mortality
from diphtheria annually from 1893 to 1925. It will be
noted that in 1921 the incidence curve has attained as high a
maximum almost as in 1893, and that the mortality curve had also
reached a higher maximum than in any year since 1898.
While it is satisfactory to note that the mortality from diphtheria
in Battersea was low during 1925, there is no doubt that this
disease is still a very formidable menace to child life, and that its toll
of lives is greater than it should be, in spite of the fact that there is
at our disposal a most potent preventive measure. The Schick
test, which has so far only been tried on a very small scale in this
country, has already proved its value, and it is to be regretted that
more extensive use is not being made of this powerful immunising
agent. Moreover, such use as has already been made has been
mainly in children of school age. It is in the case of children of
pre-school age that the best results from immunisation are to be
obtained. Even on the very small scale that it has been already
carried out in various elementary and secondary schools in this
country, Schick testing has amply proved its value. In these
schools it is stated some 5,000 children were immunised after a
positive result had been obtained, and with the exception of one
or two specially susceptible cases none of these children even when
exposed to risk of infection had subsequently contracted the disease.
It is obvious therefore that an extended use should be made
of this preventive agent. Infant Welfare Clinics are the most
appropriate places to carry out the necessary treatment, dealing,
as they do, with children of pre-school age One Metropolitan
borough has already adopted the Schick test, and the immunisation
of positively re-acting cases at one of its Infant Welfare Clinics.
During the year 82 children under 12 years of age at the Royal
Masonic Institute for Girls were Schick tested, with the following
results:—
60 gave a positive result.
22 were negative to the test.