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16 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The percentage of children vaccinated to total births has
improved from 51.5 to 59.2:—in Clapham from 56.7 to 59.6,
in Putney from 66.6 to 70.9, in Streatham, etc., from 43.7 to 54.0,
and in Wandsworth from 58 T to 65.6.
Diphtheria.
The prevalence of this disease was much the same as in 1923,
412 cases occurring, compared with 374 in 1923. The number
of deaths in each year was 26. The death-rate for 1924 was -07
and the case mortality was 6-5 per cent.
The figures for both years compare very favourably with
1922, when there were 838 cases and 76 deaths.
The rate per 1,000 of population was 1.2 :—1-2 in Clapham,
.8 in Putney, .5 in Balham, .5 in Streatham, 2.3 in Tooting, and
1.5 in Wandsworth.
Of the 412 cases, 394, or 96 per cent., were removed to
hospital and no difficulty was experienced in having cases promptly
removed.
The Medical Officers of the London County Council made
inspections of Larkhall Lane and New Road Schools, Clapham,
Broadwater and Hearneville Road, Balham, St. Leonard's,
Streatham, Ensham and Sellincourt Road, Tooting, and Swaffield
Road, Waldron Road, and The Wan die Schools, Wandsworth.
Swabs were taken from the throats of some of the children
examined.
As a result of this swabbing, nine cases were found to be
positive and eight suspicious. All the cases were swabbed again
and not re-admitted to school until a negative result was obtained.
Every positive or suspicious case was visited and all necessary
precautions taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
During the year 26 tubes of anti-toxin were issued to medical
practitioners for use in cases of Diphtheria.