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not less than fortnightly intervals. The disadvantage of this material is that
it requires three doses, but the high percentage of successful results and the
freedom from reaction make it difficult to use any other. However, during
the present year (1937) it is proposed to treat selected children with Alum
Precipitated Toxoid (A.P.T.), where only two doses are necessary.
It is proposed to re-test any patients who like to re-attend after one
year to see if any of them have relapsed into an unprotected state. The
opportunity will be taken to offer them all one further dose of the immunising
substance to increase still further the protection they have.
At present, however, it is evident that the statement made in the
pamphlet, namely, that protection can be conferred 011 children in "nine cases
out of ten" is more than justified by the present figures which show that, to
put the figures the other way round, instead of protection failing in one case
in ten, it fails in only one case in twenty-five.
The response to the institution of a diphtheria clinic has been pretty
well as expected. It is most difficult to get the public actively interested except
when the danger is immediate. For several weeks in the summer few people
attended, but as soon as some cases of diphtheria occurred in a school there
was a great rush to the clinic by the local children. This occurred during most
of the autumn, and accounts for the satisfactory size of the figures for this
first period. But with no further cases of diphtheria occurring in the district,
interest again waned. It appears that prevention is recognised as sound by
parents only when the alternative is thrust in their face ; the tragedy is when
recognition takes place too late.
Puerperal Fever arid Puerperal Pyrexia.
Three cases of puerperal fever and six cases of puerperal pyrexia occurred
during 1936. These are referred to on page 18.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
There were two cases of ophthalmia neonatorum notified in 1936, as is
shown in Table No. 45.
The Council has an arrangement with the London County Council by
which cases of ophthalmia neonatorum are treated at St. Margaret's Hospital,
Hampstead, N.W. In some cases the mothers are admitted with the child in
order that breast feeding may be continued.
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