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85
X would, therefore, strongly recommend the Committee to
consider the institution of an Anti-Diphtheria scheme in Greenwich
on as comprehensive a basis as possible.
I am, Madam Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Yours faithfully,
F. R. WALDRON,
August, 1937. Medical Officer of Health.
The Committee decided not to provide a special Clinic but to
continue on the present lines for a further 12 months. It was
also agreed that notices setting out the advantages of immunisation
before school age is reached should be exhibited at all the Council's
Welfare Centres.
Under the Council scheme 112 cases were dealt with
during the year. 73 of these cases received injections of
toxoid anti-toxin floccules and 24 received injections of alum
precipitated toxoid. The remaining / 5 cases included 13 in
which the preliminary Schick test was negative ; one case which
was positive but was developing diphtheria at the time, and one
case which was Schick positive and developed a local reaction
following the first injection of toxoid anti-toxin floccules. This
latter was the only case in which a reaction to any of the injections
was reported. On enquiry it was elicited that anti-toxin had been
given a year previously as a prophylactic and the reaction was
apparently due to the resultant sensitivity. The number of cases
dealt with as mentioned does not allow of any detailed analysis.
The scheme appears to be functioning well inasmuch as
voluntary applications for treatment are being dealt with. Unfortunately,
however, it cannot be stated that the number of cases
could be a factor in the prevention of diphtheria in the child
population generally.
Plague.—In June 1937, notification was received from the
Port of London Authority regarding a resident of the Borough
who had been a contact of a suspected case of plague on board ship
in the Thames. Nothing untoward developed, but as a precautionary
measure he was kept under supervision for some time.
Malaria.—It is interesting to note that three cases of malaria
were notified from the Seamen's Hospital as occurring in seamen.
These cases were, of course, under the jurisdiction of the Port of
London Authority.
Measles.—Forty-five cases of Measles were notified during
the year as compared with 2,071 for the previous year and 72 for
1935. There were no deaths.