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The Schick and Dick tests have not been used, nor has artificial
immunization been attempted.
The practice of gratuitous distribution of disinfectants to ratepayers
is still maintained although very considerably curtailed.
When I first became Medical Officer of Health the yearly outlay
under this heading was between one and two hundred pounds;
probably now it does not exceed ten. It should be discontinued;
it costs money and is useless if not dangerous by giving a false sense
of security to persons who still believe that Diphtheria, Typhoid,
etc., are the results of bad smells from drains or foul sinks.
The disinfection by the Public Health Authority of rooms occupied
by persons who contract Scarlet Fever or Diphtheria has very little
more to recommend it.
These infections are personal, and nothing is really needed but
free ventilation of the room and its thorough cleansing by the
householder.
The bedding and clothing of the patient perhaps might be steamcleansed,
as it requires more courage than the ordinary official
possesses to ignore entirely the practices of our grandparents and the
prejudices of the public.
There is no provision for the cleansing and disinfection of verminous
persons and their belongings.
The non-provision of "a cleansing station" was much felt on
three occasions in dealing with old persons under Section 48, Public
Health Act, 1925, who refused removal from surroundings that were
extremely repugnant.
From the following Table giving the Notifications since 1890, it
will be seen that the Infectious Sickness Rate for Scarlet Fever and
Diphtheria has been an improving one since 1900 with the exception
of Scarlet Fever in the epidemic years 1921 and 1922.
In 1925 with 130,000 people there are only 196 cases of Diphtheria
compared with 516 in 1900 with a population of 91,000.