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Infective Diseases. 27
7,366 of the total number who attended were given the
Initial Schick Test, to see if they were susceptible to Diphtheria,
and the remaining 3,459 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 5,140
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
the small number of adults who were tested 50 per cent. gave a
positive result.
Immunisation:—Immunity does not develop until several
months have elapsed after the injections have been given and in
order to determine whether this has occurred it is essential for a
further test to be performed. This is generally known as the
Re-Schick Test. No person can be said to have been immunised
successfully until the re-test gives a negative result. Unfortunately
the exact period required to produce immunity varies considerably
and it is not possible to give an assurance that it will take a
certain time. Parents are advised to bring their children for
the re-test in about three to four months after the injections have
been given and many of them come about that time. A considerable
proportion, however, fail to attend for the re-test and some
fail to complete the course of injections.
Throughout the 11 years during which the Clinics have been
in existence, the number of persons found to require immunisation
was 8,599. This number is made up of 5.140 found to be Schick