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DIPHTHERIA.
During the year there were 82 cases of diphtheria, with 3
•deaths. The monthly incidence of diphtheria during 1938 was
as follows :— January—8 cases, February—7, March—8, April
—7, May—2, June—5, July—5, August—7, September—14,
October—5, November—1, December—11, Total—82 cases.
A remarkable change has been occurring throughout the
Country in the age groups affected by diphtheria. In Wembley
the age group 5-10 gave the largest number of cases (36), while
in children between the ages of 2-5 years there were only 12
cases.
It would appear that in consequence of the family unit becoming
smaller, the children in the lower social grades are not now
subjected to the same intensity of exposure in their pre-school
life. An intensive examination of the subject shows that the
lower social grades are now tending to have less suffering from
diphtheria at the more tender ages as have done for a longer
period those living in residential districts. The result has been
that more children are tending to contract diphtheria during
school life (Journal of Hygiene—March 1939). With regard to
Wembley, it is to be pointed out that its population has the
benefit of living in a residential district, while too, it must be
benefiting from the general rise of the standard of living.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
Diphtheria Immunisation continues to be accepted but
poorly. The numbers of children submitted to prophylactic
treatment, however, increased as a result of a simple pamphlet
setting out the advantages of the treatment, being distributed
with the rate demand notices of the Council.
The numbers treated since the inauguration of the scheme
in 1935 are as follows: —

The number of children under 5 years of age who have
received this treatment is small.
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