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The year 1935 was remarkable for a low incidence of infectious disease of all kinds, the
total number of notifications being 123, less than half that of the preceding year and lower than
that for any year since 1924.
Scarlet Fever.
The type of disease met with was mild, and no deaths resulted. Although cases occurred
during every month of the year, seven notifications during September was the highest figure
for any month of the year, and there was no localised outbreak.
Diphtheria.
The somewhat heavy incidence of this disease during 1934 continued in January 1935,
twenty-five cases occurring during that month. From that time onward only occasional cases
arose, and during 28 weeks of the year no notification of this disease was received.
The type of the cases arising in the early part of the year was somewhat severe, three
deaths occurring, but from that time the disease assumed a milder character.
Other Diseases.
One case only of typhoid fever was notified and measles was absent from the district
throughout the year.
Notifications of Erysipelas, which were unduly numerous during 1934, fell to 9 during the
year under review.
Immunization against Infectious Disease.
The end of a completed year of active work in the protection of children against Diphtheria,
offers a suitable opportunity for a review of the position in Twickenham.
Although all the children in one large boarding school (The Police Orphanage) had been
tested and immunised against this disease, this form of protection had not been made available
to the public generally until a Clinic for this particular purpose was established in December,
1934. The time was auspicious, because it coincided with a somewhat extensive prevalence of
Diphtheria which has continued for some months.
A circular explaining immunization and pointing out its advantages, was sent to the
home of every school child as far as possible, to every other home where there were children
under school age.
The response to the school circulars was so great as to be embarrassing. The one session
weekly, with which a commencement was made, was soon found to be entirely inadequate,
and three sessions weekly were found necessary from January until August. Until the end of
October, two sessions weekly were held and it has since been found possible to reduce the session