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40
During 1947, 366 c.cs of alum precipitated toxoid were issued,
a quantity sufficient to protect 366 children.
Birthday Letters.—The arrangements detailed in the 1944 Report
were continued.
The following national assessment of Diphtheria Immunisation
has recently been made by the Ministry of Health :—
Costs £50,000 per annum.
Saves 2,500 children from death each year and 40,000 from
suffering from Diphtheria each year.
Releases 2,500 nurses for other work and saves one and a half
million pounds per annum in hospital costs.
MUNICIPAL LABORATORY
Eighty five swabs were examined at Walthamstow under the
General Practitioners' Service and sent to the Epping Laboratory for
further examination- and report.
Owing to staffing difficulties this service was discontinued at
the end of April, 1947, and daily collection is now effected by
motor transport from Epping.
Other swabs sent to the Epping Laboratory during the year: —
School Medical Service 430
Health Department 166
VACCINATION
Mr. E. Meddings, Vaccination Officer for the area, has furnished
the following return for 1947 : —
Births
Registered
Successfully
Vaccinated
Percentage
Vaccinated
Insus'
ceptiblc
Exemptions
Deaths before
Vaccination
Post'
poned
2,542
1,466
57.7
5
1,053
40
54
During 1947, the vaccinal condition of all school children
examined at Routine Medical Inspections was recorded, and a
summary of the findings for the year showed that 20.4 per cent,
were vaccinated.
PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS
No action was necessary under Section 176 of the Public
Health Act, 1936, for the prevention of blindness or the treatment
of persons suffering from any disease of, or injury to, the eyes.
SMALLPOX
There were no notifications of this disease during the year.
SCARLET FEVER
A total of 232 cases of Scarlet Fever was notified during 1947
as compared with 178 in 1946.