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REPORT OF CONSULTANT PHYSICIAN,
CAMBERWELL CHEST CLINIC
The year 1960 was quite mild in terms of chest illness
for the citizens of Camberwell, although there was a small
epidemic of influenza in February. There were no serious
episodes of smog which could have led to an exacerbation
of symptoms among patients with chronic bronchitis.
Units of X-ray work carried out numbered 15,602 during
the year and there were 12,903 attendances. Six thousand,
nine hundred and sixteen new cases were X-rayed and as a
result 1,898 new patients had full clinical examinations.
All these figures show a slight reduction on those for the
previous year. The cases on the tuberculosis register fell
from 1,190 to 1,012. Details of newly notified cases appear
on page 61 in the appendix to this report.
In all, there were 18 deaths due to tuberculosis, 11
men and 7 women.
Although some cases of severe tuberculosis have been
discovered, especially among young females, in only one
instance was it found that the organism had become resistant,
and then only to a slight extent, to the three standard
anti-tuberculosis drugs. It must be admitted that the
extensive and prolonged anti-tuberculous chemotherapy that
is administered to many patients, especially those who do
not have overt tuberculosis, is a cause for concern in case
strains of tubercle bacilli are produced that are resistant.
In connection with this problem of tuberculosis control,
this department has been co-operating in the Medical Research
Council's Trials and arranging for specimens of sputum
from all newly notified cases to be examined to find out
whether they contain organisms which are resistant. In this
way it is hoped to assess the size of the problem on a
national scale.
It is gratifying to note the extension of the B.C.G.
vaccination programme in schools to younger age groups.
Meanwhile, the B.C.G. vaccination of newborn infants in
the maternity department of St. Giles' Hospital continues
and 587 babies were vaccinated during the year.
The work of the health visitors shows no diminution,
2, 474 visits being made, and there is a general impression