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7
a total of 17 in all. There was a concurrent increase in the
incidence of cerebro-spinal fever, another disease affecting
the central nervous system, 8 cases being notified. Infantile
paralysis is seasonal in its incidence, occurring generally in
late summer and early autumn and then tending to disappear.
The scheme for the immunisation of children against
diphtheria was actively pursued and Table IV shows the
number of children who have so far been immunised. There
is a tendency for the effectiveness of immunisation to wane,
and evidence exists to suggest that its effectiveness may be
largely lost in many instances after a period of 5 years.
Fortunately, the immunity can be re-established by one reinforcing
injection and a scheme is now in operation by which
children entering school at five years of age, who are likely to
meet massive infection for the first time, and those attaining
ten years of age, are given a re-inforcing injection. It will
be seen that by the end of the year 2,551 children had been so
treated.

* of these the diagnosis of diphtheria was confirmed in
only 8 cases.