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This small amount is explained by the fact that patients are
usually sent into Hospital immediately on being seen. In this way
they receive Antitoxin, as soon as - if not sooner - than they would
do if the doctor had to give it at the home.
Schick Test and Diphtheria Immunization.
As mentioned in last year's report, the Clinic for the above
was instituted at the end of 1934.
Two sessions weekly have been held throughout the year with
a constant attendance.
The method of working up to the present time has been to
send a leaflet describing the test, etc. to the parents of school
children. Each school has been taken in turn and all the schools,
except the Secondary Schools, have now been dealt with.
The numbers of parents who returned the forms accepting the
treatment varied in different schools. The percentage of acceptances
ranged from 63 per cent, in one school down to 18 percent, in
another.
There was a very poor response from one School and at this
particular school the natural immunity of the children was very
low. Practically no child tested was found to be immune.
Recently a case of Diphtheria occurred in one of the scholars
and a reminder was sent to all those parents who had not replied
to the first letter.
In two or three days over 100 replies were received asking for
immunization and this has now been carried out.
The next group of children to be considered is the group from
1 year to 5 years of age and these will be reached through the
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres and by the Health Visitors
during home visits.
The details of the year's work at this Clinic are shown in
the following report by Dr. D. S. Murray:—