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83
Welfare Centre, 140, Camberwell Road, and on pages 84-5 there
appears a return of the work carried out during the year.
In spite of intensive propaganda by means of the display of
posters, and the distribution of leaflets by the Head Teachers of
elementary schools, Health Visitors, and Sanitary Inspectors, the
attendances at the Clinic show no improvement on those of the
previous year. There are, possibly, two factors which account for
the poor support of the facilities provided by the Council for securing
the immunisation of children against diphtheria. Firstly, there is
no reason to believe that general practitioners use their influence
to any extent with private families to secure for their children
immunisation treatment before they attend school.
Secondly, the London County Council has not adopted
diphtheria prevention treatment facilities for the school child.
There is no doubt that if such a scheme were in operation a large
percentage of children attending school, especially those in the
first year of school attendance, would be dealt with by the Educat ion
Authority. Parents would thus be educated to recognise the
importance of having their younger children protected, before
reaching school age, and so avoid the risk of their developing
diphtheria.
Scarlet Fever.
Scarlet Fever in recent years has existed in a form of previously
unknown mildness. Cases of the septic variety similar to those
which used to be common still occur, and should always receive
hospital treatment. On the other hand there are cases which are
found to be practically non-infectious ; these could easily be treated
at home with a minimum of risk of secondary cases occurring.
Acute Polio-Myelitis and Polio-Encephalitis.
Acute polio-myelitis which is extremely difficult to diagnose in
the pre-paralytic stage, and is frequently responsible for crippling
conditions, hence its description "Infantile Paralysis," is conveyed
by droplet infection from one individual to another, principally
by "carriers."
There were 7 cases of this disease reported in 1932.
As 5 of these cases occurred within one month, four being
notified during one week, it was not unreasonable to expect that
the disease might become prevalent in the Borough.
A reminder was therefore sent to every general medical practitioner
in Camberwell of the facilities provided for consultation and
institutional treatment in appropriate cases. A copy of the
generally informative Memo, issued by the Ministry of Health on
the pathology, etc. of polio-myelitis was also enclosed for their
guidance.
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