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Staff Illness.
Two probationers suffered from mild attacks of diphtheria
and 1 contracted mumps. 109 other nurses and maids were
warded during the year for varying periods. Of these, 27 suffered
from septic throat and 11 from influenza; 71 were off duty for
short periods with minor ailments. All recovered.
Active Immunisation against Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.
During the year all scarlet fever patients under 14 years of
age were Schick tested soon after admission, and those found
positive were, with the parents' permission, immunised during
convalescence with four weekly doses of T.A.M. Similarly, diphtheria
patients were Dick tested and immunised against scarlet
fever. The following is a record of the patients treated:—
Schick Test, 1930.
Number of patients tested 521
Number which proved positive 274
Rate per cent, of positives 52.59
Number immunised 263
No appreciable local or general reaction resulted from any of
the inoculations.
Dick Test, 1930.
Number of patients tested 735
Number which proved positive 393
Rate per cent, of positives 53.46
Number immunised (4 weekly doses of
Dick Toxin) 355
The dosage given was as follows :—
1st. 750 skin test doses.
2nd. 1,500 ,, ,, ,,
3rd. 4,000 ,, ,, ,,
4th. 10,000 ,,
The inoculations caused a reaction in 59 of the cases immunised
(16 per cent.). In 23 cases it consisted of an area of redness
at the site of injection. In 32 cases there was repeated vomiting
with varying degrees of prostration and a rapid pulse about two
hours after the injection, and lasting about two hours. In 4 cases
a general scarlatiniform rash occurred about 12 to 24 hours after
the injection and lasted about 4 hours.
All probationers are Schick and Dick tested within a few days
of their arrival for duty, and those found positive are immunised :
103