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75
Diphtheria.
Notification.—During the year 497 cases were notified, compared with 496 in
1929 and 300 in 1928. This is the highest number notified since 1921, when 592
were notified. The number of military cases was 28. The case-rates for the various
registration districts in the Borough are given in Table No. 54. The number of
notifications received each quarter was as follows:—
First quarter 170 Third quarter 86
Second quarter 120 Fourth quarter 121
Deaths.—There were only five deaths from Diphtheria, compared with 17 in
1929 and 14 in 1928. Three of these deaths were in children under five, and two
were in school children.
Home Isolation.—Three cases were isolated at home. Frequent visits are made
by the district sanitary inspectors to all cases isolated at home in order to ensure
that proper precautions are being taken for preventing the spread of the disease.
Employees of the Royal Arsenal are not allowed to remain at work unless cases
are removed to hospital or a certificate of efficient home isolation is issued by the
Medical Officer of Health. Four such certificates were issued during the year.
Antitoxin.—A supply of Diphtheria Antitoxin is kept at the Town Hall, the
Plumstead Library and the Eltham Library, and is available to medical practitioners
on application, at cost price, or free where there is inability to pay. The
amount supplied during the year was 88,000 units. The total cost to the Council
was £6 12s. 0d., £1 4s. 0d. of which was recovered.
Schick Test.—There are no clinics in the area where Schick testing and
immunisation are carried out.
Return Cases.—Nine cases gave rise to thirteen cases.
Multiple Cases.—The following Table shows the house distribution by wards.
The term "house" is synonymous with the term "family," except in 13 instances
where two families were involved.