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28
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER,
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
General.
Schick and Dick tests and artificial methods of immunization
against diphtheria and scarlet fever have not
been used.
Patients suffering from measles and whooping cough
are not admitted to the isolation hospital.
Diphtheria.
Eighteen cases were notified (compared with 42 the
previous year), three of them being nasal. Two of the cases
occurred in a Local Residential School, and four whilst the
patients were inmates of a London hospital.
Hospital treatment was provided in each case and there
were no "return" cases. There were two deaths from
diphtheria during the year, one of which occurred in a London
hospital. The latter case was not notified until after death had
taken place.
Supply of Antitoxin.
Anti-diphtheritic serum was used for the treatment of
only one case, vials being supplied containing 16,000 units.
The early administration of antitoxin to all cases of diphtheria
is, of course, of vital importance. A supply of antitoxin is
always kept at the Public Health Department and at three
chemists' shops, and is available for the use of Medical
Practitioners upon request. In cases of emergency, antitoxin
can be obtained day or night, from the Council's Fire Station,
Croydon Road, Penge.