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32
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The outstanding feature of the first year's work at the
Clinics is that 021 persons, nearly all children, have been
immunised against Diphtheria. Although this number is small
compared to the child population of the Borough—which was
returned in the 1021 Census as SI,114 children under 15—it
is evidence that some parents are desirous of availing themselves
of the facilities offered at the Clinics.
Children who attend the Clinics unfortunately lose their
school attendance mark and there is considerable reluctance
on the part of parents to bring them for this reason. If arrangements
could be made for attendance at the Clinics to be accepted
by the Education authorities as equivalent to school attendance,
it is probable that more children would be taken to the Clinics.
Efforts have been made to bring this about, but so far without
success.
Scarlet Fever.
752 cases of Scarlet Fever occurred, compared with 810
in 1927, 033 in 1920. and SOI in 1925.
Three cases died, compared with five and four respectively
for the two previous years, and the death-rate was -008 per
1,000, compared with -01 and -01. The case mortality was
.39 per cent.
The case-rate per 1,000 of population, was 2-11 :—2-53
in Clapham; 1-78 in Putney; 1-41 in Balham; I-98 in Streacliam;
3-14 in Tooting ; and 2-00 in Wandsworth.
01 the total number of cases, 045, or 85 per cent., were
removed to hospital.
The Medical Officers of the London County Council made
inspections of seven schools during the year, and any suspected
cases were at once excluded and the names and addresses
forwarded to me for inquiry.
Return Cases of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.
10 cases of Scarlet Fever and two of Diphtheria occurred
within one month of the return of a previous case from hospital.