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* One found on day of joining ship.
SCHICK TEST AND IMMUNISATION AGAINST DIPHTHERIA.
In the year 1922 it was considered, with regard to one of the Training Ships in
the River Thames, that the Schick test for Diphtheria and the immunisation of those
boys who were found to be susceptible to this disease would be a boon to the whole
personnel and to the lads who would join the vessel. In consequence, Diphtheria is
now virtually unknown on that ship.
Recently your Worshipful Committee has made arrangements for the reception
and treatment of cases of Infectious Disease from the Training Ship "Cornwall" at
Denton Hospital. With regard to Diphtheria, it is obvious that, with so perfected
a method of prevention as Schick testing and immunisation, other measures fall into
quite a secondary place. I therefore suggested to the Superintendent of the
T.S. "Cornwall" that the Schick test should be applied to the boys on his ship and
immunisation should follow in the estimated 40 per cent. of boys who would be found
to be susceptible.
With regard to costings, it appeared to your Medical Officer that a work of such
definite preventive value might well be undertaken by the Port of London Sanitary
Authority at a minimum cost, namely, that of the price of the material used.
The offer has been made to the Managers of the T.S. "Cornwall" and accepted,
subject to the necessary consent being given by the boys' parents, in which case the
boys on the ship will be rendered entirely immune to the disease, Diphtheria, which
from time to time causes anxiety from its recrudescences in severe or in epidemic form.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE OCCURRING ON CERTAIN CLASSES OF H.M. VESSELS.
The following letter was received from the Ministry of Health:—
Sib,
I am directed by the Minister of Health to state, for the information of the Port Sanitary
Authority, that he has been in communication with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
with reference to the question of the control of cases of infectious disease occurring in certain
classes of H.M. vessels, and he is informed that the Lords Commissioners consider it desirable
that Officers of Port Sanitary Authorities should visit and deal with all vessels belonging to or
chartered to the Admiralty (with the exception of His Majesty's ships in commission) in all
respects as if they were ordinary ships.
It is not proposed-that the jurisdiction of the Port Sanitary Authorities should extend to
the Naval Dockyards themselves, the sanitary control of which would remain the responsibility
of the Naval Authorities.
I am accordingly to request that the Minister may be informed whether the Port Sanitary
Authority is prepared to undertake the responsibilities proposed. If so, I am to suggest that
the Authority should apply to the Admiralty for the necessary consent under Section 327 of
the Public Health Act, 1875.
I am, Sib,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) F. F. MARCHBANKS.