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Of 400 children treated by these means (all originally Schick-positive) 364 attended
from 3 to 5 months later for a post-Schick Test. The results were as follows :—
Number successfully immunised 266
Still Schick-positive 98
Percentage failure to immunise 26.9
All cases not successfully immunised received further injections and were, when they
presented themselves, re-tested, and given certificates of immunity. At the present time, the early
cases treated by the above method of a single injection of A.P.T. are being investigated as regards
the durability of their immunity. Contrary to experience in other areas and with different brands
of A.P.T. the cases which were successfully immunised by the single injection maintain their
immunity well, as far as the present results go, but the figures are not yet sufficient to record.
It appears therefore that the single injection method is far too inefficient as regards conversion
rate for it to be of practical use, but that the immunity produced in the cases which were successfully
immunised remains more permanent than might have been anticipated from other experience.
The next investigation was based on the use of two injections of alum-precipitated toxoid
given at 14 days' interval.
Antigen. Ely Lilly & Co. A.P.T.
Dosage. 0.2 and 0.5 or 0.5 and 0.5 c.c. at 14 days' interval.
Number of Schick-positive children treated by this method 505
Number attending for post-Schick and reading 447
Cases successfully immunised 432
Still Schick-positive 15
Percentage failure to immunise 3.3
(The figure of 26.9% failure to immunise by the single injection method may be borne
in mind, and compared with the above figures).
At the present juncture there has been no time to investigate the permanency of the immunity
produced by the two injections of A.P.T. on the above scries, but it is reasonable to expect
that it will be at least as good, and probably far better, than that produced by the single injection.
A further brand of Alum-precipitated toxoid is under investigation at the present time.
This is the product of Messrs. Evans, Sons, Lescher & Webb.
Antigen. Evans, Sons, Lescher & Webb. A.P.T.
Dosage. 0.2 and 0.5 or 0.5 and 0.5 c.c. at 14 days' interval.
Number of Schick-positive children treated by this method 759
Number attending for post-Schick and reading (to date) 329
Cases successfully immunised 315
Still Schick-positive 14
Percentage of failure to immunise 4.2
These results are not quite as good as those obtained when using the Eli Lilly product,
but a longer series may show that there is no appreciable difference between the results which
may be expected.
In regard to the confirmation of the efficiency of immunity after periods varying from
2 to 8 years, the following figures are available.
Confirmatory Schick Tests Performed From 2 to 8 Years After Immunisation.
Antigen. Burroughs Wellcome Toxoid Anti-toxin Mixture.
Dosage. Three injections of 1 c.c. given at 0-7-21 days.
Number of cases re-tested and inspected 678
Still Schick negative 596
Reverted to Schick-positive state 82
Percentage of failure to retain full immunity 10.6
Antigen. Burroughs Wellcome T.A.M.
Dosage. Three injections. The first two are of 1 c.c. at a weekly interval. The third injection
is of 1.5 c.c. 14 days after the second.
Number of cases re-tested and inspected 947
Still Schick-negative 906
Reverted to Schick-positive state 41
Percentage of failure to retain full immunity 4.3
(The above figures are extremely satisfactory).
Antigen. Burroughs Wellcome T.A.M.
Dosage. Three injections. Initially 1 c.c. then two injections of 1.5 c.c. at 14 days' interval.
Number of cases re-tested and inspected 125
Still Schick-negative 107
Reverted to Schick positive state 18
Percentage of failure to retain full immunity 14.4
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