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
Dagenham 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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that the tendency is to show that the greater the number
of immunes per family, the greater will be the number
who give a negative primary Schick reaction.
The following table shows the influence of a case of diphtheria occurring in the home on the Schick-reactions of the remaining occupants:—
| Age. | Positive. | Negative. | Total. | Percentage Positive. | Percentage Positive in general local population. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 8 | 77 | 46 | 123 | 62.6 | 74.3 |
| 8 to 12 | 117 | 107 | 224 | 52.2 | 59.9 |
| 12 and over | 32 | 29 | 61 | 52.5 | 48.9 |
These three tables refer to all children dealt with
in this district from the time immunizing was started.
Below is quoted an extract from a recent report on
American health statistics:—
"The striking reduction in diphtheria mortality
it is claimed is ' undoubtedly due to the extensive
employment of active immunization.' Among the
five largest cities, Detroit had the lowest rate, 0.6 per
100,000, New York coming second with a rate of 0.9.
Neither Rochester (N.Y.) nor Portland (Ore.), cities
with a population, the former, of 336,527, and the
latter of 315.000, it is worthy of note, had a single
death from diphtheria in 1935."
The figures for England and Wales are:—Mortality
7 per 100,000 ; Incidence 139 per 100,000.
Scarlet Fever.
There was a slight increase in the incidence of
Scarlet Fever, there being 482 cases notified, compared