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Of subjects receiving secondary inoculation, only 9 have so far
been Schick-tested again, but in each case a negative reading has
been obtained. Summarising, the total number of persons either
found Schick-negative originally, or rendered so by inoculation. and
issued with certificates of apparent immunity, amounted during the
year to 1,343.
In considering that figure, it must be borne in mind that considerable
numbers of children are now becoming due for the final
Schick test, so that the number of immunity certificates issued will
shortly be materially increased.
It has been found that persons attending the clinics have been
fully prepared to persevere with the requisite number of visits.
Very little trouble has been experienced in dealing with this large
number of children, the natural fear of the occasional nervous child
having been nearly always overcome by a little tact on the part of
the clinic staff, not entirely unaided by the sweet which is provided
after the injection. Actually these injections are usually almost
painless, and I have occasionally injected small children while
asleep without waking them up. The actual number of attendances
at the clinics during the year, viz., 11,018, was a really excellent
response to the facilities provided.
Very few persons have shown any objectionable reactions following
injections of T.A.M., and no serious phenomena have been
encountered. An occasional subject may experience rather severe
pain in the inoculated arm, and some slight temperature, for a day
or two, but this is a peculiarity of the subject, and is not due to
harmful material. This is proved by the fact that large number;
of other children inoculated from the same bottle have experienced
no untoward effects of any description. It is worthy of note that
the Toxoid-antitoxin mixture used in this work is a safe non-toxie
mixture. It is entirely free from those dangers associated with the
regrettable fatalities which have been, from time to. time, reported
from abroad. The careful methods of preparation, of testing, an