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72
It was fortunate as far as Mogden Hospital was concerned
that the increase of diphtheria which occurred later in Kichniond
did not. coincide with ours, otherwise the position would
have been more difficult than it was.
In a stable district with a stationary "salted" population
it may be possible to sit with folded hands and confine swabbing
to within narrow limits, and more or less disregard the carrier
who may or may not be virulent, with the knowledge that to
difference it is going to make is not going to be material, but
in the cases of populations of children "unsalted" and susceptible,
and a rising toll of deaths, one cannot refuse to utilise any
or every method which may help to minimize the outbreak, no
matter how much work or embarrassment it may give to the
Public Health Department of the district.
Owing to the widespread outbreak I suggested to the Council
that early steps should be taken to institute an Immunisation
Campaign, and on 2'Gth July, 1929, Dr. Lethem kindly
came down from the Ministry of Health and gave an address
to the members of the Council.
Difficulties and doubts were raised as to the possible dangers.
In November, as the Council were sending a deputation to Birmingham
on the matter of sewage, knowing that immunisation was
being carried out extensively in that city, 1 got in touch with Dr.
Newsholine, who very kindly arranged a special immunisation
clinic on that day, so that the members of the deputation could
see the work actually in progress on a large scale.
The members were profoundly impressed by the work which
was being done in Birmingham, and two of them were Schick
tested at the Clinic (one proving immune and one non-immune).
The result was that a definite campaign was entered into and
arrangements were made for public meetings and propaganda
early in the new year.