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46
One case of diphtheria occurred in an immunised child during the year 1934,
the illness commencing before the child was due for retesting; since starting the
work ten cases in all have occurred, particulars of which are given in the following
table: —
The following table gives particulars of the ten cases of diphtheria :—
TABLE III.
Diphtheria in Children Schick-Tested and Treated with Immunising Injections.
Initials
Age in
years at
date of
Schick
Test
Sex
Type of Home
Date of
Schick
Test
First
Injection
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.
4¾
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.F. Hospital)
Very
severe
2. G.L.
6¾
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.
3¾
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.
6½
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.
???
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
7. J.F.
1½
F.
Higher Artizan—
model dwellings
13/5/25
20/5/25
10/6/25
(Third)
yes
negative
11/11/25
19/2/28
2½ years
Metropolitan
Asylums Board
(N.E. Hospital)
Mild
8. V.C.
3T8t7
F.
Poor, one room;
house let in lodgings
9/4/24
30/4/24
18/6/24
(Thiid)
yes
negative
12/9/24
21/2/28
3r85 years
Metropolitan
Asylums Board
Mildattack
of nasal
9. W.J.
3T8t7
F.
Fair, two rooms;
house let in lodgings
12/1/27
19/1/27
9/3/27
(Third)
yes
negative
19/10/27
15/4/29
2½ y ears
(N.E. Hospital)
Metropolitan
Asylums Board
("N.W. Hospital)
diphtheria
Mild
10. I.S.
5¾
M.
Higher Artizan
7/2/34
21/2/34
7/3/34
(Third)
no
-
9/6/34
3 months
L.C.C. Brook
Hospital
Mildattack
of nasal,
faucial and
laryngeal
diphtheria
*These two cases occurred before the elapse of 9 months, the period laid down at Edinburgh as required to secure artificial immunisation.
The above table shows that only three of the children were retested after the last injection. It cannot be assumed that
immunity invariably follows the administration of three immunising injections, nor that immunity even when once established
is invariably permanent. Drs. Parish and Okell have shown that of 440 Schick positive children who were rendered Schick
negative by immunisation, 5 per cent. were found to be positive when re-tested 1-7 years later.