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28
treatment to the notice of the mothers at the centres or while visiting the
homes. Leaflets are left by the Inspectors when visiting homes where
cases of diphtheria have occurred, and in some cases medical practitioners
have sent cases for treatment. Latterly it was found that an increasing
number of people made enquiries about the treatment, having heard of
it from the parents of children already treated. There seems little reason
to doubt that the supply of patients will continue to increase as the treatment
becomes better known.
Detailed description of the treatment was given in the Annual Report
of the Medical Officer of Health for 192G. In brief, it consists of two
distinct parts—the Schick test and the immunising treatment. The test
is made by injecting a minute dose of diphtheria toxin into the skin.
If the patient is susceptible to infection with diphtheria a small reddish
mark appears round the point of injection in a few days. 'When a positive
result of this nature occurs, the prophylactic treatment is advised. A
negative result indicates that the patient is already immune to diphtheria.
The treatment consists of three injections of a toxoid-antitoxin mixture
into the muscle at intervals of a week. The immunity takes at least
three months to reach its height, and a re-test with a negative result is
necessary before it can be stated definitely that the desired result has
been achieved. In Westminster, about six months is usually allowed to
elapse before re-testing. In most cases the re-test is negative, but
occasionally a further course of treatment is required to ensure complete
immunity. It must be clearly realised that the treatment only aims at
protecting the patient from the results of infection, and does not prevent
him from harbouring the germs of the disease.
During the year 301 tests and re-tests were made, 570 protective
injections given, and there were 115 attendances for the reading of results
only, making a total of 98G attendances. Patients were treated at the
different Centres as follows:—
Pimlico Road 7
Bessborough Street 42
Frith Street 65
Page Street 70
Total 252
In the following statement the 22 cases treated in 1926 have been
included with the 252 done in 1927, giving a total of 274. In a few cases
mentioned the treatment extended into 1928.