London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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66
Schick Test and Active Immunisation against Diphtheria.
(1) Hospital.
During 1926 a commencement was made in Schick Testing the nursing staff and immunising
those nurses who proved susceptible to diphtheria. Since that date 6 cases of diphtheria have
occurred, 1 in 1927, 1 in 1928, 1 in 1929, 2 in 1930 and 1 in 1932. In the last case the diagnosis of
diphtheria is open to question, as the nurse had been immunised and eventually proved to be a carrier.
The particulars regarding the other cases have been given in previous Annual Reports.
The following table demonstrates the benefits derived from this method of preventive medicine—
Number of cases of diphtheria occurring amongst probationer nurses during
the first eight months of 1926 (before immunisation was carried out) 9
Incidence rate per annum (taking 30 as average number of probationer nurses) 45%
Number of cases of diphtheria occurring amongst probationer nurses from
1927 to 1932 (after immunisation was carried out) 6
Incidence rate per annum (taking 30 as average number of probationer nurses) 3.3%
Number of nurses Schick tested (1927 to 1932 inclusive) 177
Number of nurses giving a positive reaction 87
Percentage of nurses giving a positive reaction 49.1 %
Number of nurses re-Schick tested 42
Number of nurses re-Schick tested giving a positive reaction 16
Percentage of nurses re-Schick tested giving a positive reaction 38.0%
(2) Health Centre.
This clinic was made available for Willesden residents in May, 1927. The number of individuals
attending for treatment is now very small. The following are the figures for 1927 and 1932
respectively:— 1927 1932
Number attending for preliminary Schick Test 82 2
Number attending for immunisation 94 6
Laboratory.
The bacteriological laboratory was opened for work on the 1st January. It undertakes the
examination of the routine bacteriological specimens from the district and the Municipal Hospital.
In addition, a number of specimens are received from the Central Middlesex County Hospital and
other Institutions within the area.
The following table shows the number of specimens examined during the year
Table No. 62.
| Nature of Specimens Examined. | Positive Result. | Negative Result. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Swabs for Diphtheria Bacilli | 250 | 2,398 | 3,648 |
| 2 Swabs for Diphtheria (Virulence Tests) | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| 3 Blood for Widal Reaction | 5 | 25 | 30 |
| 4 Sputum for Tubercle bacilli | 103 | 523 | 626 |
| 5 Swabs and Films for Gonococci | 30 | 33 | 63 |
| 6 Specimens of Pus | — | — | 7 |
| 7 Blood Cultures | — | — | 4 |
| 8 Swabs for Vincent's Angina | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 9 Cerebro-Spinal Fluids | — | — | 16 |
| 10 Fluid for Tubercle Bacilli | — | — | 6 |
| 11 Fluid from Pleural Cavity | — | — | 5 |
| 12 Faeces for Organisms | — | — | 12 |
| 13 Urines | — | — | 80 |
| 14 Swabs for Scarlet Fever (Streptococci) | — | — | 4 |
| 4,526 |
Table No. 63.
Sources of Specimens Examined.
| From Willesden Municipal Hospital | 1,221 |
| „ Private Practitioners | 1,475 |
| ,, Municipal Health Centres and Health Nurses | 1,007 |
| „ Central Middlesex County Hospital | 788 |
| Other Hospitals | 35 |
| 4,526 |
Hospital Buildings.
(1) Cubicles.—The two cubicle pavilions completed during 1931 have not yet been furnished
or equipped to receive patients.
(2) A new washing machine has been installed in the laundry in order to cope with the extra
work now received from external sources.