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66
DIPHTHERIA (INCLUDING MEMBRANOUS CROUP).
There were 108 cases of diphtheria notified during 1937, 3 deaths resulting.
The highest number of cases reported in any one week was 5. In 1936 there were
121 cases and 6 deaths.
The cases were more or less evenly distributed, as usual, throughout the borough,
and only in a few instances was it possible to determine accurately the source of
infection. In 5 cases the source appeared to be a member of the family previously
infected ; in 14 cases infection was counted to have been acquired in school, and
in 7 cases in an institution.
The number of swabs from doubtful cases submitted for bacteriological examination
was 669, a positive result being returned in 29 instances.
Of the registration districts, that contributing the largest number of cases
was Christ Church with 48. In All Souls the number was 28, in St. Mary 22 and
in St. John 10.
The age group 5—15 was most affected, 49 of the cases falling into this group.
Diphtheria Antitoxin.
Two applications were made for a free supply of antitoxin under the Diphtheria
Antitoxin (London) Order, 1910.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
The Schick Testing and Diphtheria Immunisation Clinic opened at the beginning
of 1928, continued to operate under Dr. Bulman at 113, Marylebone Road, and
later at 181, Marylebone Road.
The following statement gives details of the work of the clinic during the
year.
Attendances 1,408
New cases 456
Schick negative 7
Completely immunised (3 injections but not retested) 331
Retested 112
Positive after retest 2
SCARLET FEVER.
Notifications of this disease numbered 121, the highest number of cases reported
in any one week being 9. There were no deaths from scarlet fever during
1937. In 1936 there were 141 notifications, one death resulting.
The districts to suffer most from the disease were Christ Church and St. Mary.
In the former there were 40 cases and in the latter 33. All Souls and St. John
each reported 24.
As usual, the majority of the patients were children, 86 being under 15 years
of age. Of the remainder, 28 were in the age-group 15-35 and 7 were over 35 years
of age.
Though it seemed probable that many of the children notified acquired their
infection in school, it was only in 15 instances that a definite connection could be
made out.
ENTERIC FEVER AND PARATYPHOID FEVER.
Five notifications of enteric fever and four of paratyphoid fever were received.
There were two deaths. In none of the cases was any information obtainable indicating
that the source of infection arose within the Borough.
With the object of securing closer co-operation, if possible, with the medical
practitioners in the Borough, a communication in the following terms was addressed
to each member of the profession from whom notifications of infectious disease are
more or less regularly received. The number of these is 51. The number of members