Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 May 2009
1. Dick tests on 743 Bantu children aged 6–20 years showed 5·0% positive reactors.
2. Throat swabs from 200 urban native children showed 19% carriers of Lancefield's group A Streptococcus haemolyticus.
3. The basis of Bantu immunity to scarlet fever is discussed.
I am indebted to Dr E. H. Cluver, Director, and Dr G. Buchanan, Deputy Director of the South African Institute for Medical Research, for their continued interest in the progress of this work, and I am especially grateful to Dr D. Ordman of this Institute who isolated and typed the streptococci for me. My thanks are also due to Dr Marcus, Kanye, Bechuanaland Protectorate, and to Dr Prestwich and Dr Xuma, of Alexandra Township, for making it possible to examine the requisite number of Bantu children. The travelling expenses involved in this investigation were defrayed by a grant from the National Research Board.