§ 56. Sir F. Fremantleasked the Minister of Health whether he has any statistics of the results of immunisation against diphtheria in New York, Chicago and Toronto as compared with London?
§ Mr. E. BrownMy information is that in New York City, since large-scale immunisation of children began in 1929, diphtheria has steadily decreased from an average of about 10,000 cases a year between 1920 and 1929 to just over 400 cases in 1940, in relation to a population of over 7,000,000. Information about Chicago is not readily available but I will arrange to let my hon. Friend have such particulars as may be obtainable. In Toronto I understand that in the five years 1933 to 1937 there were no more than 209 cases of diphtheria in all. In two of these years, 1934 and 1937, there was not a single death, whilst in 1940 there was no case either of notification or death. In the County of London, with a population of about 4,000,000, notifications of diphtheria in recent years have averaged close on 8,000 cases a year.
§ Sir F. FremantleWill my right hon. Friend do anything to bring home to the public generally that they are responsible for these diphtheria deaths, which are unnecessary and preventible; and can he arrange with the B.B.C. to broadcast on the subject?
§ Mr. BrownMy hon. Friend has not perhaps noticed that there has been a very active attempt to do this, and it is continuing.
Dr. Russell ThomasDoes my right hon. Friend consider this improvement due to immunisation or to improved social conditions?
§ Mr. BrownThey have a good deal to do with it, but my advice is that immunisation is the major cause of the change for the better.