SCHOLARS' HEALTH

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1926, Page 4

SCHOLARS' HEALTH

COPY OF DR. BAKER-AIcLaGLAN’S REPORT.

Tils following report was before the Canterbury Education Board at last week’s monthly meeting:— “Owing to the fact that the terra and public holidays occupied one bird of the full working days cf this month, 1 have not been able to do as many schools ns usual. I left Christchurch for Hokitika on Juno Bth, to administer the protective inoculations against Diphtheria to those found by the tests given in February susceptible to the disease. The tests, you will remember, were mentioned in my report for that month. To protect a susceptible child one must give three inoculations of increasing strength at intervals of o to 7 days. This work has now been completed in Hokitika, and the talc is very much like the nursery story of “The Ten Little Nigger Boys.” Out of about 60 children in the infant department, whose parents were individually circularised asking if dev desired their children tested for susceptibility to Diphtheria, and if necessary protected against it, only 41 answered in the normative. Of these 41 12 wore found naturally immune, (an unusually high percentage), 2 had left or were absent when I arrived to give the first inoculations, 2 susceptible* declined protection, 1 was found ill and unfit for treatment, 3 after receiving one inoculation, left the district, 2 after receiving two inoculations’ wero absent from school when the final one was given, 19 received all three inoculations and therefore may be regarded as immune. Thus, as a. result of a public lecture, a large amount of correspondence, individual circulars, the upsetting of intended itineraries, and the sacrifice of all other work to enable me to attend Hokitika on throe different occasions, at the necessary intervals of time, not to mention cost of materials, syringes, etc etc'., nineteen children only have been protected against Diphtheria, when I was able and willing to protect the whole infant community. “Twas over tliiis,” I suppose, hut if so, ono wonders to what purpose wo are now in our second generation of universal education.”