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70
Twenty-four were reported by the Hospital authorities
as not suffering from this disease, and 19 Reports were
received concerning patients who were discharged but still suffering
from the following diseases:— Tonsillitis 10, Rhinitis 5, and
Pyelitis, Streptococcal Laryngitis, Mumps and Enteritis, one each.
The attack rate is equivalent to 2.69 per 1,000 population,
but taking the estimated child population of the Borough as 23,308,
the attack rate per 1,000 child population is 9.65.
There were 3 fatalities due to Diphtheria which gives a case
mortality of 1.16 per cent.
In accordance with the Antitoxin Order, 1910, a supply of
Antitoxin is provided by the Council for the use of general
practitioners in emergency cases. Thirteen phials of Antitoxin,
containing a total of 130,000 units of serum, have been
supplied during the year.
As a result of the applications and enquiries from parents
regarding diphtheria prophylaxis, the Council resolved in
September to inaugurate a modified scheme of Diphtheria Immunisation
for the Borough. Under this scheme, facilities are given to
voluntary applicants to enable their children to be Schick tested
and immunised if necessary, at the Seamen's Hospital Laboratory.
Dr. A. Davies, the Council's Pathologist, is responsible for carrying
out the tests and immunisation. For each complete case, the
Council pay an inclusive fee of 10/6 or 2/6 where a Schick test alone
is found necessary.
In addition to the above, similar terms of payment were
agreed upon with the authorities of the Miller General Hospital,
whereby Dr. W. Smith, the Pathologist, could immunise voluntary
applicants who were patients of the Hospital. It was arranged
that the Medical Officer of Health would approve the materials
used and that the case record would be submitted to him before
payment be made. It is not possible to make any statement as
to the scheme, as it was inaugurated just before the close of the
year.
The Ministry of Health when giving approval to the scheme,
asked that a report should be submitted after six months working.
One thousand five hundred and fifty-one swabs were
forwarded by medical practitioners for bacteriological examination
from cases suspected to be diphtheria. Of this number, 1,364 were
reported to give negative or doubtful results, and 187 were positive
in character, being dealt with accordingly.