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18
Diphtheria.
24 cases of diphtheria were notified as compared with 63 in
1938. One death occurred in a child of school age.
Immunisation against diphtheria was carried out as in previous
years, but as a result of school closure at the commencement of the
war and the evacuation of a large proportion of the children, the
number of cases immunised was very much less than in previous
years. During the year 345 children received a full course of protective
injections and a further seven were undergoing a course
at the end of the year. 257 children were Schick-tested during the
year, 253 of these being children who had been immunised in 1938.
The 345 children immunised in 1939 were awaiting the Schick-test
at the end of the year. The material used for immunisation was
toxoid-antitoxin mixture, which was given in three injections
at intervals of a fortnight.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
Three cases of this disease were notified, in one of which a baby
of two months death occurred.
Anterior Poliomyelitis.
Two cases of this disease were notified, both in children under
school age. They were both removed to a general hospital in London.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
Two notifications of puerperal pyrexia were received. In
both cases recovery took place.
Erysipelas.
Sixteen cases of erysipelas were notified, recovery taking place
in every case.
Pneumonia.
25 cases of pneumonia were notified, but 32 deaths were certified
as due to pneumonia, an indication that notification of this disease
is not satisfactory. All notified cases are visited by the District
Nurses and an offer of home-nursing assistance made.