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Altogether 571 cases were notified, compared with 370 for the
previous year. 280 occurred in East Greenwich, 95 in West
Greenwich, 8 in St. Nicholas, and 188 in Charlton and Kidbrook.
Thirty-one cases were removed to Hospital of which 4 were
returned as not suffering from Whooping-Cough.
Diphtheria.—The number of patients notified as suffering
from Diphtheria during the year was 396 as compared with 235 and
281 for the years 1932 and 1931. Three hundred and eighty-eight
cases were removed to Hospital, but of this number 19 were returned
as errors of diagnosis. The cases were more or less evenly distributed
throughout the Borough. All contacts and discharges from Hospital
were examined by me either at the Borough Hall or at their own
homes. As a result of these examinations, of 220 children discharged
from Hospital, 13 gave a positive bacteriological result, and of 71
children referred by teachers from the various schools in the
Borough, three gave a positive finding. All the "positives" were
given appropriate treatment and kept under observation until the
condition finally cleared. Under the London County Council scheme
all persistent "carriers" of diphtheria germs amongst schoolchildren are treated at a special clinic at Guy's Hospital.
During the year several enquiries from parents were received by
me asking if their children could be protected from Diphtheria.
They were reluctantly referred to other Boroughs where facilities
for immunisation existed.
In accordance with the Antitoxin Order, 1910, a supply of
Diphtheria Antitoxin is provided by the Council for the use of
general practitioners in emergency cases. Fifteen tubes of Antitoxin
containing a total of 150,000 units of serum have been supplied during the year.