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10. DIPHTHERIA.
An immunisation campaign was commenced in November.
There was some increase in the incidence of diphtheria, the
number of notifications being fifty-seven, whereas in the previous year
there were thirty-one.
With the intense drive which we are-making against diphtherial
and if the public will continue to avail themselves of the services
provided, it may be that diphtheria may become a disease much less
known than it is today, and still less known and dreaded than it was
a generation ago.
It seems, therefore, that for the information of the people
today, and particularly for the information of the people tomorrow,
some few remarks on this illness should be included in such a report
as this.
Prom the work which we have done on severe cases of diphtheria
amongst whom there is a high percentage of mortality, it seems clear
that the patient is suffering from a mixed infection, and that
streptococci as well as the germs of diphtheria are present.
I would also like to put on record that, whilst the prevention
of diphtheria by inoculation is the public health measure which at this
stage of our medical information is the proper measure to adopt, we in
Barking, previous to inoculation, obtained a considerable amount of
success by reason of the fact that the closest co-operation existed
between the general medical practitioners on the one hand, and my self
and my staff on the other, which resulted in the early diagnosis of
diphtheria and the early administration of anti-toxin.
In congratulating ourselves on the availability of
immunisation to prevent diphtheria, we must not forget the very
valuable help which the early administration of anti-toxin has afforded
us, not only in successfully treating diphtheria, but also in directly
helping to prevent the spread of diphtheria.
11. ARTIFICIAL IMMUNISATION.
The total number of children inoculated against diphtheria
during the year was 1,662 as compared with 2,047 in 1941. Immunisation
against whooping cough and scarlet fever was carried out simultaneously,
the total number of children inoculated against these two complaints
being respectively, 327 and 340.