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INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Diphtheria.
In the report for 1932 it was explained that we were in the
middle of an epidemic of a particularly virulent character and the
steps taken to combat the disease were discussed.
Briefly, our procedure was as follows:—
All children in the Infants' and Junior Departments were
given a short printed letter to take home to the parents. The
letter explained that the Health Authorities were concerned about
the incidence of diphtheria in the schools, that by a simple test,
the Schick test, we could tell whether the child was liable to the
infection, and that we were able to prevent the disease, or at least,
minimise the severity of infection by three injections, which
would be painless. A consent form was attached to the letter.
The work was begun at the Southfield Road School on 17th October,
1932, and the response here was most encouraging. In the Junior
Department, 68.8% of the children were presented for Schick
Testing and in the Infants' Department 61.8%. After our experience
at Southfield Road School we decided to immunize all
children under 7 years without a preliminary Schick test while the
posterior Schick test was done on children of all ages.
We have had no elaborate organisation and this indeed is
unnecessary and likely only to hamper the work. Our practice
has been to arrive at a school, accompanied by a clerk and a nurse.
The clerk, gives a card, bearing the name, to each child for whom a
consent form has been returned. The children then file past the
nurse, who rubs the arm with spirit, and then past the doctor who