London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Hackney 1931

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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90
Diphtheria Anti-toxin.—In accordance with the Anti-toxin
Order of 1910, a supply of diphtheria anti-toxin was provided
during the year, and issued as required to medical practitioners
applying for it in cases of diphtheria or suspected cases of
diphtheria amongst the poorer inhabitants of the Borough. During
the year 55 bottles of anti-toxin of 8,000 units each were supplied
to medical practitioners, most of which was used for prophylactic
purposes.
Diphtheria Immunisation.—The active immunisation of persons
against diphtheria with toxoid-antitoxin mixture has been in
progress for some years past, and in London approximately one-half
of the Borough Councils have established Clinics for this purpose.
The Diphtheria Immunisation Clinic was opened at the Central
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, No. 28, Lower Clapton Eoad,
on the 6th January, 1928, Dr. F. Porter-Smith being the Medical
Officer in charge.

Table: Infants and children from six months of age are treated, and very encouraging results have been obtained, as shown in the following table:—

Infants and children from six months of age are treated, and very encouraging results have been obtained, as shown in the following table:—

Year.Schick Tested.Commenced treatment without Schick Test.Naturally Immune.Immunised.Discontinued treatment and struck off Register.No. under treatment at end of year.
Pre-School Age.School Age.Adults.Pre-School Age.School Age.Adults
192899350749553137745123
19297728214707374168454193
193014040380521221271682161369
19311494138771631742862109282

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Enquiries as to the effect on the individual of the testing and
injections were made as a routine and it can be stated that in no
case has any physical disturbance resulted.
Enteric Fever.—During the year under consideration 5 cases
of enteric fever and 2 cases of paratyphoid B fever were notified.
This shows an increase of 2 on the number of cases that occurred
during 1930. The attack-rate was 0.03 per 1,000 inhabitants,
compared with 0.06 for England and Wales.
Five of the cases were removed to hospital.
There was 1 death from typhoid fever in the Borough last year.