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106
method of prevention has now passed beyond the experimental
stage and is widely regarded as the best way of protecting
against the disease. In my Annual Report (1924) its appropriate
use was advocated and local education authorities and
those in charge of maternity and child welfare centres were
recommended to consider its adoption in suitable circumstances.
The experience of the past year has justified this recommendation.
The Schick Test and immunisation in the United States
continue to give satisfactory results which are confirmed by
our more limited experience in this country. It is of particular
value to nurses and others brought into daily contact with
cases of Diphtheria and otherwise. It is surprising that there
are still many infectious disease hospitals where nurses are
allowed to attend Diphtheria cases without having been offered
the advantage of this method of treatment. As anti-toxin
has proved itself the best method of treatment, so immunisation
appears to be our best prophylactic."
This strong confirmation of the value of this preventive measure
from such an authority as Sir George Newman, is I think, significant.
Should the Council decide as I hope they will to adopt it, as a
preliminary step one of the maternity and child welfare centres in
the Council's Scheme might be made use of for the establishment of
the preventive method. A weekly session could be held in the
selected centre and patients invited to avail themselves of this
clinic to have their children immunised against Diphtheria. The
cost, including the services of a skilled operator and observer, would
not at first, I estimate, amount to more than £120 to £130 per
annum for this service.
The adoption of this prophylactic method would, apart from
its other advantages, especially the saving of life, enormously
reduce the expenditure now incurred in securing hospital isolation
for this disease. It has been estimated that in 1921, Diphtheria
alone, cost the ratepayers of London, about £500,000.
I have appended to this report statistics relating to the incidence
and mortality of Diphtheria in London. It will be noted
that the death-rate from the disease in Battersea while not the
highest, is among the highest in the metropolitan area. This is not
surprising when the social conditions existing in many of the lower
wards of the borough are borne in mind. Destitution, overcrowding,
bad housing, are factors in determining the incidence and
spread of this as other infectious diseases.
In asking the Committee to recommend the Council to make
use of this powerful preventive measure, I feel sure that they will
give my request their careful and sympathetic consideration, and
I look forward to seeing this fatal disease in the near future no
longer in Battersea a menace to the children of the Borough.
April, 1927.
G. QUIN LENNANE,
Medical Officer of Health.