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Cases of mistaken diagnosis are excluded from the above table.
There were 25 instances where more than one case occurred in the same house.
The number of Kensington deaths was 22, representing a case mortality of 7 per cent. In
the three preceding years the deaths were 39, 7 and 13.
During the year, 2,061 throat swabs were examined at the council's laboratory at St. Mary
Abbots Hospital, and of these 100 gave a positive result.
There were no " return " cases reported during the year.
Nine cases of diphtheria were reported from St. Mary Abbots Hospital, 17 from St. Charles
Hospital, five from the Kensington Institution, and two from the Princess Louise Kensington
Hospital for Children.
Under the Anti.toxin Order, 1910, the council are empowered to supply diphtheria antitoxin
for administration to patients who are too poor to pay, and on signing the necessary
declaration that the patient cannot afford specific treatment, a medical man can obtain a free
supply from Mr. Evans, chemist, at No. 135, Ladbroke Grove, W. 11, Mr. W. Reeves, chemist,
at No. 81, Cornwall Road, W.ll, or from the public health department at the Town Hall. The
anti.toxin is obtainable at all hours of the day and night from Mr. Evans' and Mr. Reeves'
premises, and during office hours from the Town Hall. When the Town Hall is closed, applications
for anti.toxin can be made to Mr. Britton, an officer of the department, who lives at No. 1,
Hornton Place, Hornton Street (only a few yards from the Town Hall).
The council loan syringes with portable sterilizers to doctors for the purpose of administering
the anti.toxin. Medical men administering the council's anti.toxin to poor persons are, on
application to the medical officer of health, paid a fee of 5s. per patient treated.
In 1933 the borough council supplied 241,000 units of anti.toxin for 28 patients at a cost of
£20 10s. Od.
The borough council undertake to supply toxoid.antitoxin for the Schick test and immunisation
to any medical practitioner in the borough who may be co.operating with the medical officer of
health in an attempt to limit the spread of diphtheria in any institution, provided that the consent
of the authorities of the institution and of the parents or guardians of the children concerned be
obtained.
The cost to the council of toxoid.antitoxin supplied during 1933 was 12s. lid.
The council have recently instituted a scheme whereby medical practitioners can immunise
poor patients in their homes or in surgeries in return for a fee of ten shillings paid by the council in
respect of each patient immunised. In addition, Dr. Guy Bousfield has been appointed by the council
to conduct a Schick.testing clinic at No. 119, Ladbroke Grove, W.ll, from 2—4 p.m. on the first
and second Fridays in each alternate month of the year. For his services, he is to be paid a fee
of two guineas per session. The borough council have provided in their estimates for the year
1934.35 a sum of £300 to meet the cost of the scheme.
Enteric Fever.—Eleven cases of this disease were notified ; six were removed to hospital and
two to nursing homes. The cases notified in the three preceding years were 14, 16 and 32. There
were two deaths from this disease as against one in each of the preceding years. Five cases were
notified from the southern division of the borough and six came from North Kensington.
In two cases there was evidence that the disease had been contracted abroad ; one contracted
the disease from contact with another case in hospital; but the remaining eight had not been out
of London for some time prior to their illness.
Erysipelas.—Ninety.seven cases were notified during the year, 76 of which were removed to
hospital. There were ten deaths from this cause, the deaths in the three preceding years being
seven, three and four.