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- 42 -
The investigation covered only patients newly notified
or transferring into the Borough from other areas. The
total of three hundred and seventy-three cases surveyed differs
from the total of tuberculous patients visited in the year
in that forty-one of these were old cases changing residence
within the Borough,,
As a guide, it will be seen that the cases have been
analysed to show immigrants who have become notified cases
within ten years of arrival in this country. Thus, it seems
that 16% of the tuberculous patients visited in Kensington for
the first time in 1952 were immigrants who had possibly
contracted the disease within the first ten years of residence
in this country.
These statistics cannot be taken as evidence of a
conclusive nature because of the interaction of unknown variable
factors such as the specific dates of onset. Again the table
showing the countries of origin must be treated with care as
the total number of aliens resident in Kensington is not known.
Conclusions derived from the basis of racial immunity are
difficult to evaluate, particularly as precise information as
to opportunity for infection or acquisition of immunity in the
country of origin is lacking.
It is known, for example, that North Kensington has been
for many years a transit area for Irish immigrants and that
since the war, a portion of the Holland and Earls Court Wards
has provided homes for a Polish colony. The preponderance of
these nationalities in the table appear to support this
knowledge. However, the question of relative immunity still
remains, for it is also known that since the war many Negroes
(mostly West Africans, it is believed) have settled in North
Kensington, and there is evidence of a widespread sprinkling
of Hungarians in the Borough. However, the table shows the
notification of no Hungarians during the year and only two
natives of West Africa,
There is, of course, the question of immigrants who
arrive already carrying the infection, although a discussion of
this aspect cannot be made without accurate data on dates of
onset.
However, there is unquestionably a great deal more
evidence available this year to support the contention that
there is a public health problem which must be faced. It is
clear, also, that this problem has two important aspects.
Firstly, there is the duty of protecting the existing population
and secondly, there is the task of securing an acquired
immunity for immigrants.
Mass Radiography
Under the National Health Service Act, mass radiography
is undertaken by the Regional Hospital Boards.
On one occasion in 1952, the North-West Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board provided facilities for mass
radiography at premises in Kensington. The number of persons
examined totalled one thousand and thirty-two.
The following table gives a summary of the results
obtained s-