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In addition to the above, during the same period, approximately
83 persons received injections from private practitioners, making a
grand total of 738 persons who have received injections under the
scheme during the year.
Schick Test.
Number of Schick Test Injections given at the
Clinics, including Control Injections 1,186
Number who have received such injections at the
Clinics 593
Percentage found to be immune after receiving 3
immunising injections 96.5
It is not the practice to give a Primary Schick Test unless
there is some definite reason for believing that the individual may
be immune, e.g. if there is a previous history of having had an
attack of Diphtheria, or a history of having been artificially immunised
at some remote period.
Those found to be Schick Positive after 3 immunising injections
have been given a 4th immunising injection, which in all
cases except 2 has been found to render them Schick Negative.
One of these did not proceed further after the 5th injection proved
Positive but the other continued with injections, with a Schick
Test a month after each. This patient has now had 7 immunising
injections altogether, and is still Positive. At the end of the year
arrangements were being made to obtain a sample of the blood so
that the antitoxin content could be ascertained.
Some of the adolescents received 4 immunising injections as a
routine instead of 3 in order to minimise sensitivity. In these cases
the first injection consisted of 0.5 c.c. of material instead of 1 c.c.
In connection with this work, my best thanks are again due to
the teachers of the various schools for their willing co-operation,
and for the enthusiasm which they have shown.
(b) Scarlet Fever.
During the year, 125 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified, 4 of
these being reported from Oldchurch County Hospital under circumstances
similar to those described under the heading
"Diphtheria." Last year, excluding Oldchurch cases, 222 were
notified. The type on the whole has again been mild.
Towards the end of August, there was a slight epidemic, the
result of infection of milk. Fortunately, we had notification at the
very commencement of cases at one particular farm. On receipt of
this notification steps were immediately taken to pasteurise the