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44
Immunization.
No immunization against diphtheria was carried out during
the year, but on January 1st, 1935, the Council adopted the
recommendation of the Public Health Committee passed at their
December meeting:—
That a sum not exceeding £200 be allocated for the period
ending March 31st, 1935, to provide facilities for residents in the
district whose annual income does not exceed £250 to receive
immunization treatment against diphtheria, this sum to provide
for payment of a fee of 10s. in each case to medical practitioners
carrying out the treatment, and to cover the cost of the necessary
propaganda, and that the Medical Officer of Health be authorized
to take all necessary steps for circularizing practitioners, informing
the public, and generally bringing the scheme into operation as
soon as possible.
Scarlet Fever.
621 cases of scarlet fever were notified during the year. This
is an incidence rate of 4.70 per thousand population, compared
with a figure of 3.76 for the country as a whole. This was a sharp
rise on the figure of 402 for the year 1933, which was the highest
up to then recorded as a total for the three districts. The notifications
for the first three quarters of the year averaged between
eight and nine a week—but, starting at the latter end of September,
the average was about twenty per week for the rest of the year.
The accommodation at the Isolation Hospitals proved insufficient
even during the periods of lighter incidence, and cases
were sent to the institutions of other authorities. This position
was accentuated in the latter part of the year when large numbers
of cases had to be sent to other hospitals. Those patients in whom
the attack was mild in character and whose surroundings were
suitable for home treatment, were encouraged to remain at home.
The extent to which this practice can be carried out, however, is
very limited, more particularly because of the necessary restrictions
imposed on the rest of the household in such circumstances.
Whilst suitable cases do quite well properly looked after at home,
it is only when one is assured that the supervision will be satisfactory
that one is happy about the retention at home of such
cases, as even with due care even mild cases develop their complications—in
the absence of care complications are invited.
Secondary infections due to the retention of a patient at home
were infrequent, partly of course because those treated at home
were cases who could be suitably isolated and this usually denoted
an absence of a great number of other children in the home.
Home treated cases are visited by the fever nurse frequently in
the early days, and at more widely spread intervals in the later
stages. She now carries out no form of treatment, but instructs the
mother in the steps necessary to avoid spread of infection, and
advises her on the elements of sick nursing.