London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Of the total of G47 Schick positive cases 508 (78.5 per cent.) proved to be negative
after three immunising injections. Of those remaining Schick positive and
therefore not protected, 14 were found to have become immune after receiving further
injections of formol toxoid, yielding a total of 522 immunised. The remaining
125 children left school before immunisation could be completed.
The following is a summary of the progress of immunisation during 1937 :— Table 31
| Classification | Residential schools and children's homes | Residential special schools | Approved schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncompleted cases brought forward from 1930 | 177 | 20 | 58 |
| Number tested for susceptibility | 648 | 112 | 330 |
| Number found to be immune | 322 | 72 | 212 |
| Number found to be susceptible | 320 | 40 | 118 |
| Completed full immunising course and gave negative reactions on re-test | 316 | 35 | 104 |
| Loft school before course of immunising injections had been completed | 90 | 4 | 22 |
| Outstanding on 31st December, 1937, to be completed in 1938 | 91 | 21 | 50 |
The following is an analysis of the 15 clinical cases:—
| Classification | Diagnosis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Schick negative on preliminary test | Mild faucial | 1 | 2* |
| Mild clinical and morphological | 1 | ||
| Schick negative after course of prophylactic injections | Laryngeal and faucial | 1 | 2t |
| Mild clinical | 1 | ||
| Course of prophylactic injections not completed | Mild faucial | 1 | 3** |
| Mild anterior nasal | 1 | ||
| Moderate faucial | 1 | ||
| Not Schick-tested | Moderate clinical | 2 | 8 |
| Mild faucial | 1 | ||
| Moderate faucial | 1 | ||
| Laryngeal | 1 | ||
| Mild anterior nasal | 1 | ||
| Moderately severe nasal | 1 | ||
| Diphtheritic stomatitis | 1 | ||
There was a general consensus of opinion amongst the medical officers of the
establishments concerned that the results of immunisation had been satisfactory
; that reactions following inoculation had been negligible ; and that there had
been no administrative difficulties.
Active immunisation against scarlet fever was continued during 1937 at Mayford
approved school and at Shirley and Ongar residential schools, and was commenced
at Hutton residential school in January, 1937.
Active
immunisation
against
scarlet fever
*—1—19 months after Schick negative result.
1— 5 years „ „ „ „
†—1— 2 years ,, ,, „ ,,
1— 3 years ,, „ ,, ,,
**—1—3 clays after first injection of diphtheria prophylactic.
1— 9 days „ second „ „ ,,
1— 4 days „ third „ „ „