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22
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1935.
The percentage of children vaccinated to total births was
53.9—in Clapham, 52.6; in Putney, 66.9; in Balham, 52.1;
in Streatham, 50.7; in Tooting, 41.5; in Southfield, 62.1; and
in Springfield, 60.2. This percentage is .6 lower than that
recorded last year.
Diphtheria.
388 cases occurred, compared with 552 in 1934; 409 in 1933;
and 323 in 1932. The number of deaths was 14, compared with
21 in 1934, 13 in 1933 and 16 in 1932. The death-rate for 1935
was .04 and the case mortality was 3.6 per cent.
The rate per 1,000 of population was 1.13; 1.17 in
Clapham; 1.09 in Putney; 1.02 in Balham; .76 in Streatham;
1.45 in Tooting; and 1.29 in Wandsworth.
Of the 388 cases, 385 or 99 per cent., were removed to
hospital and no difficulty was experienced in having cases
removed promptly.
The Medical Officers of the London County Council made
inspections of the Christchurch, Haselrigge Road, St. Andrew's
Street, Stonhouse Street and Telferscot Road Schools in Clapham;
Convent of the Sacred Heart Elementary, Roehampton, Hotham
Road, Huntingfield Road, Putney Church of England, Felsham
Road, and Putney Roman Catholic, Clarendon Road Schools in
Putney; Fircroft Road and Smallwood Road Schools in Balham;
Furzedown Demonstration and Streatham Secondary Schools
in Streatham; Defoe, Franciscan Road, Sellincourt Road and
Tooting Graveney Schools in Tooting; and All Saints', Brandlehow
Road, Earlsfield, Garratt Lane and Waldron Road Schools
in Wandsworth.
Swabs were taken from the throats of some of the children
examined. As the result of this swabbing six cases were found
to be positive. All the cases were swabbed again and not readmitted
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 53 tubes of anti-toxin were issued to medical
practitioners for use in cases of Diphtheria.