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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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66
Results of Bacteriological Examinations and Virulence Tests.
No. of contacts swabbed 58
Negative at first examination 35
Positive at first examination 23 (39.66 per cent.)
Virulence tests made 7 (all negative)
Analysis of the swab results relating to the contacts is given below:—
| Contacts swabbed. | Positive Results. | Contacts positive. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nose and Throat. | Nose only. | Throat only. | |||
| First Examination | 58 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 23 |
| Second ,, | 20* | 1 | 8 | — | 9 |
| Third „ | 5** | — | 4 | — | 4 |
| Fourth ,, | 1*** | — | — | — | nil |
*3 positive contacts removed to M.A.B. Hospitals.
**4 virulence tests made in the case of positive contacts—all negative.
***Virulence tests made in the case of 3 positive contacts—all negative.
The parents or others in charge of children harbouring diphtheria bacilli were
given written directions as to the precautions necessary.
The results of the examinations of child contacts were communicated to the
School Medical Department of the London County Council so that children
harbouring diphtheria bacilli could be kept from school providing there was no
evidence that the organisms were avirulent.
Diphtheria antitoxin was available free of charge on application by medical
practitioners. In two cases doses were supplied of 10,000 units each and in one
8,000 units.
The Schick Test and Immunisation against Diphtheria.
This work has been earned on since 1922 at the Council's Maternity and
Child Welfare Centre, 10, John Street, on Wednesday afternoons.
Enquiries as to the effect of the testing and inoculation on the individual were
made as a routine; we are able to record that any disturbance caused was
negligible. The use of toxoid antitoxin does away with the risk of fatality incurred
by using improperly-made toxin antitoxin.