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9G
Dr. R. A. O'Brien has submitted the following report on the immunisation work
that has been carried out during the year at Norwood and Mitcham children's
homes :—
Mitcham residential school.—-82 new entrants were Schick tested in 1931. Of these 42
(or 51 per cent.) were Schick negative and 40 positive. 32 Schick positive reactors who had
received immunising injections were Schick negative when re-tested in 1931, and an additional
six children Schick positive and immunised in 1931 were negative on re-test in 1932. The discrepancy
between the number of children found to be Schick positive on the first Schick test
and the number Schick negative after immunisation is explained by the fact that some of the
children were discharged from the school before the date of the re-test.
Norwood children's home.—Three members of the staff who were Schick positive in 1930 and
immunised were Schick negative after immunisation in 1931. No new-comers on the staff were
presented for Schick test in 1931. 141 children were Schick tested, of whom 74 (or 52 per cent.)
were negative and 67 positive. 48 Schick positive reactors who had received immunising
injections were negative after immunisation. Of the remaining Schick positive reactors, seven who
had been given their course of immunising injections towards the end of 1931, were negative
on re-test in January, 1932. A few positive reactors had left the home and were not therefore
available for re-Schick test after immunisation.
In regard to the training ship "Exmouth," Dr. W. H. Kelleher, assistant medical
officer in the special hospitals service, has submitted the following report:—
During 1931, 80 new admissions were Schick tested with the following results:—
Positive (susceptible) 36 (45 per cent.).
Negative 44
Of the susceptibles 30 have received a full course of diphtheria prophylactic. Of the remaining
six, four have not yet received the full course and two left the ship before immunisation
was completed. Of the 30 who have received a full course, 20 are immune as shown by a negative
re-test; the remaining 10 are not yet due for the re-test. In addition, immunisation was completed
in the case of four boys who by the end of 1930 were not fully immune. Four carriers of
virulent diphtheria bacilli were removed from the ship for isolation during the year. There were
no cases of diphtheria. Formol toxoid, prepared at the Belmont laboratories, has been used since
October, 1931, but the time has been too short to allow of an opinion as to its value as an immunising
agent.
At Shirley residential school the work was suspended temporarily, but has
now been resumed.