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48
last year which show that only 10 per cent, of the whole child
population were naturally immune. In this year's table, given below,
the naturally immune children are all of school age, hence the increase
in the percentage.
Taking this factor into consideration, it can be claimed that the
number of children in the schools of Richmond, who are naturally
or artificially immune, is now sufficiently high to guarantee freedom
from a serious epidemic provided the rate of re-testing the older
children and the immunisation of younger children of Richmond is
maintained.
During the year three cases of Diphtheria have occurred in
children who had attended the Clinic, one of these became ill before
the course of injections had been completed. Another occurred a year
after a certificate had been given and was a very mild case; the other
occurred two years after the certificate was issued, in a boy who had
proved particularly difficult to immunise and had had eight injections
in all. This case was also comparatively mild.
Total number of children seen during the year 504
Total number of attendances 1687
Total number of children who received primary Schick
test 204
Total number of children naturally immune 55
Percentage of children naturally immune 27%
Number of certificates given 220
Number of children who required additional injections
for complete immunity 7
Number of children due for re-test, after 2 years 370
Number re-tested after 2 years 281
Number of children who were still immune 278
Number of children who required further injections 3
Total number of certificates issued at the Clinic since 1934 1,902
D. S. Murray, B.Sc., M B., Ch.B.