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Schick method. Inmates of institutions, schools, hospital and other
staffs can be tested, and those who are susceptible can be immunised,
so that such institutions can be protected from outbreak of diphtheria.
It often happens that a member of a family gets a slight sore throat,
which exhibits none of the symptoms of diphtheria, although the diphtheria
organism may be present; it is not surprising, therefore, that other
members have bad throats and then, when the illness appears serious,
a doctor is called in who discovers that one or more have developed
typical membrane in the throat. In some persons the organism persists
in the throat or nose for long periods and these become sources of danger
in schools, business houses and in tenement dwellings where they are
thrown into close association with others.
The death rate at all ages in London was 0.12 per 1,000 living; 27
deaths occurred in Westminster giving a rate 0'18, but as all were of
children under 15 years of age the heaviness of the mortality in the
last four years can be better guaged by comparison of the following
figures:-

Anti-toxin is provided free, and 60 bulbs were made use of, and
practitioners are able to have bacteriological assistance in doubtful
cases.
Typhoid Fever..17 cases of this disease were notified, but 2 cases
eventually proved not to be typhoid, and 3 were cases of paratyphoid
fever.
Ten patients contracted the disease before coming to Westminster.
There was a history of shellfish (cockles, oysters) having been consumed
in four cases. No deaths occurred during the year, but one case has since
proved fatal.
Since 1870, typhoid fever has become less and less prevalent throughout
the country generally. The death rate which had been 0-90 per 1,000
in the 10 years 1861-70 has fallen until in this year it is only 0-01 per
1,000.
In Westminster the average number of cases which occurred during
the 10 years 1890-99 was 112 each year ; the yearly average for the last
five years is 13, and most of these are imported cases.