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Hospital in order to see whether it was possible to deal with the
diphtheria problem in the L.C.C. Schools by eradicating the diphtheria
"carriers." The report of the Clinic (1929) states that
' 'the advantages gained by eliminating 'carriers' would probably
be few as susceptible children would still be in contact with diphtheria
and with 'carriers' not of school age
There is an alternative method—Schick testing and immunising,
which is simpler and cheaper and which would probably eliminate
diphtheria from the L.C.C. Schools."
In Ilford an attempt has been made to deal with the most
susceptible children in the Becontree and Goodmayes area of the
town. 937 children, most of whom were under 8 years of age were
tested towards the end of 1929, 161 were found insusceptible, and
755 have been immunised to date.
In addition, a Clinic for the immunisation of children was
established at these offices in November, 1929, and up to date.
284 children have been immunised. A total of 1,039 children have
therefore been immunised since November, 1929.
The effect of immunisation will be to limit the outbreaks of
diphtheria not only by providing a mass of children who will not be
susceptible, but such children will act as buffers between "carriers"'
and susceptible children. Unless, of course, a very large proportion
of the susceptible childhood is immunised, no very great effect will
be seen in the incidence of diphtheria. It is satisfactory that there
have been so many parents who have been willing to avail themselves
of this means of prevention.
In view of the continued increase in the population of the town,
I am glad to be able to report that with the purchase of the additional
land for Isolation Hospital purposes there are now 27.8 acres of land
available for an Isolation Hospital which will be sufficient for the
town when it is completely built upon. The accommodation of the
Isolation Hospital has been strained to the utmost and it has been
necessary to limit the admission of cases of scarlet fever. Scarlet
fever is as a rule such a mild disease compared with what it was
years ago, that it is unnecessary and undesirable to admit all mild
cases of scarlet fever to an Isolation Hospital. The hospital
accommodation available should be used for the admission of severe
cases of such diseases as measles and whooping cough, and the