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57
were found to remain negative (i.e., immunity had not been
lost).
Since beginning immunisation in March, 1932, and up to
the end of 1935 (i.e., 3 years 9 months), a total of 457 persons
had been found to be naturally Schick negative, and a total
of 996 had been completely immunised (i.e., had yielded
negative posterior Schick tests), a grand total of 1,453.
(b) At School.—Towards the end of the year the Education
Committee decided that the School Medical Officer
(acting in the capacity of Medical Officer of Health) should
carry out diphtheria immunisation at the schools, and that
parents attending with their children should be allowed to
bring children of pre-school age.
A commencement was made with Infants' Departments.
The procedure adopted consisted of issuing a circular to
each child in attendance at the Infants' Department to take
home to the parent or guardian, and stating that the Medical
Officer of Health would attend at a certain day and time
to offer immunisation to any child whose parent was agreeable.
Parents were invited to attend, and were particularly
encouraged to bring any children between the ages of one
and five years.
Commencing in November, 1935, only two schools were
visited during 1935, and out of an attendance of 332 at Selwyn
Avenue Infants' Department, a total of 205 consents, including
seven in pre-school children, were obtained. At Thorpe Hall
Infants' Department there were 120 consents, including 12
of pre-school age, out of 275 in attendance.
The children were immunised with a single dose of Alum
Precipitated Toxoid. Schick testing was carried out after
an interval of three months.
During the course of 1936, eight further infants' departments
have been visited, and percentage acceptances have
varied from 30.8 to 51.8 and totalling 696 acceptances out of
1,710 in average attendance, or 40.7 per cent. In addition, 108
pre-school children were Immunised at these schools.
During the year seven cases were reported amongst
immunised or naturally Schick negative children as having
sore throats suggestive of diphtheria. The routine in such
cases has been for the patients to be swabbed (a) for the
presence of diphtheria bacilli, and if found positive, for a
virulence test to be carried out, and (b) for the presence of
streptococci—particularly hemolytic streptococci.