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Isolation Hospital and various hospitals in London. It is
gratifying that a scheme of extension has now been sanctioned,
and it is hoped that the extra cubicle accommodation
will meet the needs of the districts for some considerable
time.
The return cases of scarlet fever have remained comparatively
low, varying from 2 per cent.—5 per cent. during
the past five years. In some cases the infecting child has
been found to have developed some nasal discharge after
returning home, but in others nothing abnormal has been
discovered.
From time to time inspections have been conducted in
schools in the search for carriers of scarlet fever, and in
some instances whole classes have been swabbed in the hope
of discovering diphtheria carriers.
The disinfection of infected articles is carried out at
the Council's Disinfecting Station in Summers Lane, and
infected premises are dealt with by spraying and fumigation
with formalin. The amount of work done under this heading
is set out in the report of the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
Schick Test and Immunization.
In October, 1921, the Schick Test was applied to the
nurses and children in the Wright-Kingsford Home, North
Finchley. Seventy persons, whose ages ranged from 10
months to 30 years, were submitted to the test, and of these
46 were positive and 29 negative. Of the 29 negative ones,
4 had already had diphtheria and 3 were proved to be
carriers.
Fifty-seven persons in all were immunized, 14 to whom
the Schick test had not been applied and 43 who gave a
positive Schick. Three positive cases left the home before
immunization.
There was no instance of serious disturbance, either
general or local, among those immunized.
Up to the present time no case that was immunized
and no case that gave a negative Schick has contracted
diphtheria.
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