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1934] 52
Tetanus in Toy Pistol Cartridges,— It is appropriate here to refer to
page 43 of the Medical Officer of Health's Report for 1932, where a full account is
given regarding an investigation of a search for Tetanus in toy pistol cartridges
purchased in the Borough. Subsequently H.M. Inspector of Explosives wrote me
from the Home Office, and I submitted to him one of the wads from which Professor
James Mcintosh, M.D., of the Bland Sutton Institute, had obtained the
Tetanus Bacilli after cultivation, and the opinion was expressed that in view of
the wide-spread distribution of Tetanus, evidence was not strong enough to incriminate
the cartridges; I, however, demurred, while I had to admit that we had meanwhile
only the one finding. During the year, however, confirmation of the infected
cartridges has come quite independently in another way. A child was admitted
to the Middlesex Hospital after a toy pistol injury suffering from Tetanus, and
Professor Mcintosh was able to obtain from the mother the actual box of cartridges
used with the pistol, and again in this case he was able to obtain the Tetanus
Bacillus from the wads of these foreign cartridges.
VACCINATION.
Dr. C. V. Spark was appointed in place of Dr. Clay (East Lower Holloway
Ward) resigned, and Dr. B. Kessel in place of Dr. Leventon (Barnsbury Ward)
resigned, and commenced their duties in November and October respectively.
No vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of Health under the
Public Health (Smallpox Prevention) Regulations, 1917, as it was possible to refereach
case immediately to the Public Vaccinator of the district or institution.
Vaccinations.—Of the 3,571 births registered in 1933, the returns of vaccina
tion show that only 1,589 infants were successfully vaccinated, while 9 were found
to be insusceptible. There were also 174 who died unvaccinated, and 1,198
statutory declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination were obtained by
the parents or guardians ; 68 vaccinations were postponed under medical authority.
243 were removed to other districts or places unknown, thus leaving 65 unaccounted
for. The return of certificates of exemption, therefore, represents 33 per cent, of
the registered births.
Vaccination per 100
Years, births, less infants who
died unvaccinated.
1924 54.0
1925 50.4
1926 51.5
1927 49.9
1928 46.6
1929 49.5
1930 51.2
1931 50.0
1932 50.0
1933 47.0
Certificates of Exemption.—The following tabular statement shows the
decrease in number of these certificates in recent years:—
1923 1,751
1924 1,755
1925 1,973
1926 1,896
1927 1,845
1928 1,755
1929 1,642
1930 1,584
1931 1,477
1932 1,299
1933 1,213
A statement is given of the prosecutions by the Vaccination Officers since the
transfer from the Guardians in 1930.