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63
been vaccinated, and this fact emphasises the desirability of
securing the successful vaccination of infants.
The Minister is of opinion that, in the present state of knowledge,
and so long as the smallpox prevalent in this country retains
its present mild character it is not generally expedient to press for
the vaccination of persons of these ages who have not previously
been vaccinated, unless they have been in personal contact with
a case of smallpox or directly exposed to smallpox infection.
Diphtheria.
It is satisfactory to record that a further decrease occurred in
the number of notifications received and also in the number of
deaths from this cause during 1929. The cases reported
numbered 669, as compared with 744 in the previous year. Of
these, 652 were removed to hospital for treatment. In 17
instances the diagnosis was not confirmed, and the patients were
discharged from hospital as not suffering from diphtheria or any
other notifiable disease. The deaths from this disease numbered 16.
The return cases numbered 12 (a return case is defined as
one which occurs within 28 days after the release of the original
case from isolation).
The following table shows the number of notifications and
deaths from this disease during the last 9 years:—
Year.
Number of
Notifications.
Number of
Deaths.
1921
875
64
1922
821
63
1923
875
72
1924
831
42
1925
934
40
1926
1,063
54
1927
768
23
1928
744
22
1929
669
16
Diphtheria anti-toxin is available free of charge for the use
of medical practitioners on application during the day between
the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Town Hall, the Public
Health Department, 35, Brunswick Square, and at the Dulwich
Baths, East Dulwich Eoad, and at all hours, day and night, at the
Town Hall, Peckham Eoad.
During the year 64 phials of anti-toxin of 8,000 units each
were supplied to medical practitioners for treatment purposes and
58 phials of 500 units of anti-toxin for prophylactic purposes.
Diphtheria Immunisation Clinic.
The Diphtheria Immunisation Clinic at 140, Camberwell Eoad
was established in December, 1926. The work at this clinic has
proceeded very smoothly during the year. The figures of attendance
show steady progress, although there has been some falling
off in the numbers as compared with the first complete year's
work of the clinic. A return of work for the year is set out in the
following tables:—