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22
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1936.
The percentage of children vaccinated to total births was
54.2—in Clapham, 46.1; in Putney, 65.7; in Balham, 52.0;
in Streatham, 56.9; in Tooting, 39.2; in Southfield, 63.1; and
in Springfield, 60.3. This percentage is .3 higher than that
recorded last year.
Diphtheria.
365 cases occurred, compared with 388 in 1935; 552 in 1934
and 409 in 1933. The number of deaths was 23, compared with
14 in 1935, 21 in 1934, and 13 in 1933. The death-rate for
1936 was .06 and the case mortality was 6.3 per cent.
The rate per 1,000 of population was 1.06; 1.77 in
Clapham; .53 in Putney, .85 in Balham; .73 in Streatham;
.90 in Tooting; and 1.25 in Wandsworth.
Of the 365 cases, 361 or 98.9 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 Bonneville Road, Cavendish Road, Larkhall
Lane, New Park Road, New Road, St. Andrews Street and Stonhouse
Street Schools in Clapham; Hotham Road, Huntingfield
Road, Putney Church of England and Putney Roman Catholic
in Putney; Broadwater Road, Fircroft Road, Oldridge Road
and Ravenstone Schools in Balham; The Defoe and Sellincourt
Road Schools in Tooting ; All Saints', Putney Bridge Road, Garratt
Lane, Littleton Street Medical Defective, Riversdale, St. Joseph's
Roman Catholic, St. Michael's, Swaffield Road, Waldron Road
and Wandle Schools in Wandsworth.
Swabs were taken from the throats of some of the children
examined. As the result of this swabbing eight 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 56 tubes of anti-toxin were issued to medical
practitioners for use in cases of Diphtheria.