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(2) Diphtheria.
The average length of detention of diphtheria patients is also approximately the same as
last year:—
1931—56.2 1933—42.0
1932—45.6 1934—42.1
(3) Other Diseases.
Average stay in hospital of patients suffering from " other diseases," 1931—1934:—
1931—29.3 1933—25.5
1932—27.2 1934—22.6
Cases Admitted from Other Authorities.
During the year 107 cases were admitted from Authorities other than the Borough of Willesden.
These may be tabulated as follows:—

A considerable number of cases referred for admission to Hospital by outside Authorities had
to be refused as no beds were available for their accommodation. The amount of income derived
from the maintenance of these patients during the year was £1,855 6s. 4d. The corresponding figures
for last year were—Number of patients 51, amount of income £1,211 2s. Od.
Schick Test and Active Immunisation Against Diphtheria.
(1) Nursing Staff.
During 1926 a commencement was made in Schick Testing the Nursing Staff and immunising
those nurses who proved to be susceptible to diphtheria. Since that date 8 cases of diphtheria have
occurred, 1 in 1927, 1 in 1928, 1 in 1929, 2 in 1930, 1 in 1932 and 2 in 1934. It is becoming clearer
that immunisation is not infallible in preventing diphtheria, and the position may be expressed in
the following terms. Immunisation against diphtheria is a 100 per cent. security against a fatality
and a 95 per cent. security against an attack of the disease.
The following table demonstrates the benefits derived from this method of preventive medicine :