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107
It is absolutely useless to commence the immunisation of
children with a view to cutting short an epidemic of diphtheria in
view of the fact that at least three months are required, after the
immunising injections have been given, before immunity is obtained,
and the epidemic would possibly have subsided long before those
partially immunised and still under treatment for immunisation
could be considered safe from the disease.
The incidence of diphtheria in the United States of America
has been curtailed by means of inoculation, and there is no reason
why we, in England, should not secure the same satisfactory result.
Every possible care and precaution is taken in the treatment at the
Hackney Clinic, and no child has suffered any undue physical
disturbance after inoculation.
There have been a few cases of immunised children who have
been suspected of having contracted diphtheria subsequently, but
the condition has been of such a mild character that, in most cases,
it has appeared extremely doubtful if they had had genuine clinical
diphtheria, but were most probably " germ carriers," and all
recovered very quickly without ill effects. In my opinion this only
helps to prove the efficacy of the protective injections.
Some difficulty has been experienced in the past with regard
to the attendance of school children at the Clinic who were unable
to record their "register mark" at school, but an arrangement has
now been entered into between the Borough Council and the Education
Authorities whereby the attendances of school children at the
Immunisation Clinic is regarded as attendance at a Treatment
Centre and such attendances are credited to the schools attended
by the children.
The general atmosphere of the Clinic is a happy one and mothers
are often surprised at the simplicity of the treatment.
In conclusion I should like to express my keen appreciation
of the excellent work and enthusiasm of Miss Williamson, Health
Visitor, and Mr. Haynes, Clerk.
Enteric Fever.— During the year under consideration 2 cases
of enteric fever and 3 cases of paratyphoid B fever were notified.
This shows a decrease of 4 on the number of cases that occurred
during 1932. The attack rate was 0.02 per 1,000 inhabitants,
compared with 0.04 for England and Wales.
The two cases of enteric fever notified during the year occurred
shortly after the Whitsun holiday and it was found that the patients
had visited a holiday camp in Essex. Several other cases occurred