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95
B.C.G. Vaccination
Now that so few school children come in contact with tuberculosis,
while they have less chance of succumbing to the infection they also
have less chance of building up any resistance. It was decided to begin
vaccination against tuberculosis by means of the avirulent B.C.G.
vaccine, offering it to all children in the 13-14 year age group whose
parents gave consent. A very successful start was made as can be seen
by reference to the accompanying table.

75% of parents consented to the procedure. Some children had to be
excluded because of contact with a tuberculous patient or for intercurrent
infection. Of the 283 who were tested (Mantoux 1/1,000)
6% were tuberculin positive and 94% tuberculin negative. The latter
were vaccinated and the former referred to the Chest Clinic for investigation;
in no case was a child found to have tuberculosis.
The vaccination reactions were entirely uncomplicated—no case of
excessive ulceration or abscess formation being seen. The pock does
not seem to cause any interference with school work or play.
General practitioners in the Area have been fully informed of the
working of the scheme and are notified of the results of mantoux
testing and informed when the child is vaccinated.
The campaign is carried out by a team consisting of a doctor, school
nurse and a clerk. The doctors concerned have been trained in the
technique of mantoux testing and vaccination with the co-operation of
Dr. MacQuiston and Dr. Butterworth of the Tottenham and Hornsey
Chest Clinics respectively. The Chest Physicians have throughout
been consulted and have shown the utmost consideration and cooperation.
Cases of Tuberculosis in Schools
During the year a number of school children were notified as cases
of tuberculosis and two school teachers were in addition so notified.
These cases were discussed with the appropriate chest physicians and
where no source of infection was known or discovered in the home,
epidemiological investigations were carried out at the school. Details
of these cases are given below.
(0 A secondary grammar school in Hornsey
A senior pupil at a girls' grammar school in Hornsey was found to
have pulmonary tuberculosis. The girl had worked for a time as a
pupil-teacher at a primary school.