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attending this clinic for various reasons. So far, a group of 212 people
between the ages of 13 and 25 years has been studied. Of these,
approximately half the males under 21 years were found to smoke, usually
in the region of 5 to 10 cigarettes daily. 80% of the girls under the
age of 21 years did not smoke. Between 21 and 25 years of age about 50%
of both sexes smoked. One young man smoked 80 cigarettes daily
when under conditions of stress. There were signs that stress played
a part in the increase of smoking as age increased and responsibilities
began to accumulate. Some formidable heavy smokers were found in
middle life. This study is to continue.
Preventive measures against tuberculosis continued apace. In addition
to 340 new contact examinations, many persons in previous contact with
tuberculosis were being checked as this is the group of persons at greatest
risk. No less than 186 persons were inoculated with B.C.G. vaccine
against tuberculosis during the year. In addition to the finding of
pulmonary tuberculosis, the clinic has seen 40 new cases of lung cancer
out of several hundred sent for intensive investigations. Some of these 40
cases have been successfully subjected to chest operations."
As might be expected from dwellers in the sooty terraces of Deptford,
there were many cases of chronic bronchitis and a clinic for bronchitic
sufferers is being held.
It may seem a pity if these useful local facilities of diagnosis and
treatment are moved out of Deptford where there is clearly so much
work still to be done."