View report page

24 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
and at the Welfare Centres. The London County Council have
given permission for these leaflets to be distributed at their
schools, and many thousands have been given out in this
manner.
The two Clinics were opened in the first week of January,
1928, at the premises of the Springfield and Balham Infant
Welfare Centres under arrangements made with the Committees
of those Centres. A weekly session is held at each Clinic, and
the work is carried out by the Council's Staff.
The addresses and times of the Clinics are as follows :—
Springfield Infant Welfare Centre,
The Congregational Hall,
Earlsfield Road (Garratt Lane end).
Every Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 3.30 p.m.
Balham Infant Welfare Centre,
91, Bedford Hill,
Balham.
Every Friday afternoon from 2 to 3.30 p.m.
Method of Procedure.—The following is the routine procedure
:—A Schick test is performed on children over 5 years
of age at their first visit, and the test is read on the second
attendance a week later. If the result is positive, showing that
the child is susceptible to Diphtheria, the first immunising
dose of 1 c.c. of Toxoid Anti-toxin mixture is given on the
same day. Second and third doses of the same strength are
given at intervals of a week.
As experience has shown that the large majority of children
under 5 years of age give a positive Schick test, the procedure
is modified in their case by omitting the preliminary test, the
first immunising dose being administered at the first attendance.
This has the advantage of reducing the number of attendances
from four to three.
Immunity develops gradually after the three doses have
been given. It is not established completely until several
months have elapsed, and the exact period required varies in
different individuals.