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provision of Home Helps have been put in operation, and
it is hoped that Hammersmith mothers will take advantage
of them.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
The scheme for immunisation of children against
diphtheria continued throughout the year; 557 children
have been dealt with.
It is to be regretted that the number of children
immunised dropped from 1,170 to 557.
The present method necessitates three injections. It is
found in quite a number of cases that children refuse to
have the second and/or third injection.
I propose in the coming year to submit a revised scheme
which will provide for the immunisation by what is known
as the one-shot method.
It is interesting to note the decrease in the number of
cases of diphtheria (p. 142).
Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is a disease which has for years occupied
the attention of the Public Health authorities throughout
the country.
Since the War greater provision has been made for the
treatment and segregation of tuberculous patients by the
establishment of Tuberculosis Dispensaries, Sanatoria and
the provision of beds in hospitals.
As a result there has been a considerable decrease in
the number of cases and deaths from tuberculosis.
In the Tuberculosis section of this report I have included
a table showing the figures relating to this disease since
the year 1917.
It will be seen that the number of cases and deaths have
dropped approximately 50 per cent. during the past twenty
years.