London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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68
diphtheria, but was shortly afterwards discharged as not a case; he had not been
re-Schicked since being inoculated, but after his return from hospital gave a
negative reaction to the re-Schick test.
The following table gives particulars of the six cases of diphtheria:—
DIPHTHERIA IN CHILDREN SCHICK TESTED and Treated with Immunising Injections.
| Initials | Age in yearsut date of Schick Test | Sex | Type of Home | Date of Schick Test | First In jection | Final Injection | Retest | Result of Retest | Date of onset of Diphtheria | Interval between last injection and date of onset of disease | Confirmation of diagnosis by | Character of Attack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. A.C. | 4 4/12 | M. | Artizan— moderately satisfactory; house let in lodgings | 30/1/24 | 7/2/24 | 20/2/24 Third, | none | — | 18/3/25 | 13 months | Metropolitan Asylums Board (N.E. Hospital) | Very severe |
| 2. G.L. | 6 5/12 | M. | Higher Artizan— model dwellings | 4/4/23 | 11/4/23 | 25/4/23 (Third) | none | — | 29/5/25 | 13 months | Metropolitan Asylums Board (N.E. Hospital) | Very mild |
| 3. M.T. | 3 3/12 | F. | Higher Artizan— model dwellings | 24/9/24 | 1/10/24 | 15/10/24 (Third) | none | — | 5/4/26 | 18 months | Metropolitan Asylums Board (N.E. Hospital) | Mild |
| 4. L.P. | 6 8/12 | F. | Higher Artizan— part of private house | 11/11/26 | 17/11/26 | 1/12/26 (Third) | none | — | 23/12/26 | 22 days* | Metropolitan Asylums Board (N. W. Hospital) | Severe |
| 5. R.H. | 7 | M. | Residential, separate private house | 28/9/27 | 5/10/27 | 19/10/27 (Third) | none | — | 21/10/27 | 2 days* | Cuddington Isolation Hospital | Mild |
| 6. P.P. | l 8/12 | F. | Artizan— model dwellings | 5/9/23 | 12/9/23 | 26/9/23 (Third) | none | — | 26/10/27 | 4 years | Metropolitan Asylums Board (N.E. Hospital) | Mild |
*These two cases occurred before the elapse of 9 months, the period laid down at Edinburgh as required to secure this artificial immunisation.
The above table shows that none of the children was retested after the last injection and emphasises the importance attached
to retesting. It cannot be assumed tbat immunity invariably follows the administration of three immunising injections.