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24
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1936.
The use of Toxoid Anti-toxin Floccules, or T.A.F., which
required two injections, and Toxoid Anti-toxin Mixture, (T.A.M.),
where three injections were necessary, has been discontinued.
Experience has shown that the large majority of children under
five years of age give a positive Schick test and in order to save
time, the procedure is modified in their case by omitting the
preliminary test, the first immunising injection being administered
at the first attendance.
A leaflet describing the procedure has been drawn up and
this is distributed by the Council's Officers when visiting homes
and at the Welfare Centres. The London County Council have
given permission for these leaflets to be distributed at their
schools, and many thousands have been given out in this manner.
Attendances:—The number of persons who have attended
at the Clinics during the year was 1,205 compared with 1,276 in
1935 and 954 in 1934. In the eight years during which the two
clinics have been open, 8,653 persons have attended.
6,174 of the total number who attended were given the
Initial Schick Test to see if they were susceptible to Diphtheria,
and the remaining 2,479 were given immunising injections without
a preliminary Schick Test. Almost all of the latter were young
children under five years of age, who were assumed to be susceptible
to Diphtheria on account of their youth.
The Initial Schick Test:—An analysis of the results of
the tests performed is given in Table X. which shows the cases
divided into age groups and sexes and the result of the test in
each group. The last line of the Table gives the percentage of
the results found to be positive in each group excluding those who
failed to attend for the test to be read.
The essential fact brought out by this Table is that 4,313
persons gave a positive result to the initial Schick Test showing
that they were susceptible to Diphtheria. This is 70 per cent.
The highest proportion of positive results occurs in the lowest
age group and the proportion diminishes as age advances. This
is in accordance with the known facts about the Schick Test. Of