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59
be too well known that patients with this disease, if treated
properly within the first twenty-four hours will almost certainly
recover. Every hour of delay beyond this means increased danger
to the life of the patient.
Antitoxin for the treatment of the disease is kept by various
chemists in the Borough and is immediately available for any
medical practitioner. The cost of serum so supplied during the
year was £4 12s. 6d.
In view of the prevalence of this disease during the year and
the high mortality it will be opportune to mention that it is possible
to test people as to whether they are immune to Diphtheria or not
and (what is and perhaps more important) it is possible by a series
of injections of a Toxoid to immunise those susceptible against the
disease.
I have reported to the Health Committee on this matter and
append a copy of the Report.
THE SCHICK TEST AND IMMUNISATION
AGAINST DIPHTHERIA.
The Schick test depends on the local irritant action of
Diphtheria Toxin if it is injected into the skin of a susceptible
person.
Some people are naturally immune to Diphtheria, i.e., they
will not contract the disease. The Schick test is therefore used to
determine the immunity of a child or adult, a negative reaction
indicating that the person is adequately protected against Dipheheria
and does not require any prophylactic immunisation.
Also when immunisation has been practised the Schick test
affords a means of estimating its success.
The injection is made into the skin of the forearm and if the
rtaction is positive an area of redness will appear in from 24—
48 hours. To obtain reliable data however, the test should be