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Schick test in order to determine if the immunization has been
successful. Where the patient is found still to be susceptible,
a further series of injections are carried out, although this is
seldom necessary.
The school children tested totalled 214, of which number
(SO were found to be Schick negative and not to require treatment.
Children under five years of age were referred for immunization
from the Child Welfare department and 112 of these children received
the series of injections, the usual practice of omitting the preliminary
Schick test in young children being adopted. The total
number of children dealt with, therefore, was 326, a very small
proportion indeed of the children in the Borough.
To obtain a widespread acceptance of immunization by the
parents, very intensive propaganda is necessary. In Ealing the
mothers were supplied with leaflets at the Health Centres, the Press
helped by notes on the subject, an article appeared in "Better
Health,"which is circulated in the district, when cases of diphtheria
occurred associated with a school leaflets were sent to the parents
of the children, yet the results, in the way of children submitted
for immunization were disappointing. It is difficult to persuade
the parents when there is no epidemic of the disease and particularly
when there is no unusual occurrence of deaths to
influence them.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The returns sent each week by the head teachers giving
particulars of all new cases of non-notifiable infectious disease
included 142 cases of measles, 368 of whooping cough, 649 of
chickenpox and 236 of mumps.
Only one certificate was given under Para. 15 (ii) of the
Administrative Memorandum No. 51 issued by the Board of
Education. This was to certify that the prevalence of chickenpox
was the cause of the attendance at St. John's Infants' School
falling below 60 per cent during the week ending 15th March.