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49
" The coat of the method is comparatively small: £13 will provide
sufficient material to protect 100 children. When it is considered that
every case of Diphtheria in London may cost the ratepayers £37, the
financial benefit alone will be realised. Experience has shown that, with
a few exceptions, parents are glad to avail themselves of the facilities
offered, particularly when Diphtheria is present in the district. Although
in rare cases the method has failed to give full protection, and although
three, or in some cases four, doses are still required to render children
immune, the method can be accepted as of proved practical value."
I would also draw the Committee's attention to the fact that the
Diphtheria Ward at the Isolation Hospital is at present full, and I
anticipate that when the present epidemic of Scarlet Fever has subsided,
a higher incidence of Diphtheria may occur than has been the case for the
last few years."
The Council have empowered me to take such action in this
matter as I may deem desirable.
(d) Enteric Fever.—Thirty cases were notified in 1928, as
compared with 11 in 1927, 6 in 1926, 10 in 1925, 5 in 1924, and
5 in 1923.
In addition, 1 case (an Ilford resident) was notified in another
district but returned to Ilford when the nature of the illness was
discovered, making a total of 31 cases.
Four of the cases were typhoid fever and occurred at Claybury
Mental Hospital; one was a doubtful case treated at home, the
diagnosis was not confirmed by the Widal reaction; one was due to
infection with the B. Typhosus, and was apparently infected in
South Africa or on her journey home. She was removed to the
Isolation Hospital and recovered.
The remaining 25 cases were due to infection with the Bacillus
Paratyphosus B. The following shows the incidence of para-typhoid
fever during the year.
Onset. Cases.
Feb 13th 1
April 4th
,, 8 th
„ 10th
„ 20 th
,, 21st
,, 21st
„ 22nd
„ 24 th
„ 27th
10
May 2nd
„ 3rd
2