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12
Every third year after immunisation and also on entry into
school life, parents are asked to present their children for Schick
testing or for re-immunisation.
Technique. In the early days of immunisation each child was
Schick tested to ascertain whether the child was susceptible, to
Diphtheria, if so inoculation was carried out.
Following practical experience it has been decided to dispense
with Schick testing, except in children above seven years of age.
The immunising agent used varied considerably; in 193'2
T.A.M. (Toxoid Antitoxin Mixture), T.A.F. (Toxoid Antitoxin
Floccules) or Formol Toxoid were used. In 1936 A.P.T. (Alum
Precipitated Toxoid) was used, two doses being given at monthly
intervals. Since 1938, however, three doses at monthly intervals of
.2c.c., .5c.c., and .5c.c. of A.P.T. are given. At the end of every
three years the child is re-inoculated using .5c.c. A.P.T. until the
child reaches eleven years, when a Schick test is performed previous
to any further inoculations. If the Schick test is positive the child
is re-inoculated.
Since 1932 8,579 children have been inoculated, and as one
can confidently assume that immunisation lasts effectively for three
years or longer, a percentage number of children immunised can be
ascertained if as an approximation, the population of children under
fifteen years is considered to be 6,963. Of this number 3,000 are
children under five years.
The figure of 8,579 immunised children does not include those
children inoculated by private practitioners to whom small quantities
of A.P.T. have been given from time to time at their request.

An approximate percentage of 41% is probably the number of
children immunised. It is necessary to state that no definite figure
can be ascertained when the child population is continually changing
and is steadily increasing as is shown by the attendance figures of
. the elementary schools. In April 1942 there were 3,963 and in
December this figure rose to 4,851.