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125
Deaths.
There were 15 deaths of patients on the tuberculosis register,
but of these only 10 died from Tuberculosis, 8 men, the youngest
aged 30 and the oldest aged 79 with 4 over the age of 65 years, and
2 women aged 68 and 84 years.
Prevention is an extremely important part of the management
of any disease, and this particularly applies to tuberculosis. By
an active campaign of education among the families of known cases
of tuberculosis the Health Visitors have continued their invaluable
work. Routine contact investigation as has been shown earlier in
this report is a very fruitful source of new cases of tuberculosis, and
it is only by constant visits and persuasion by the nurses that many
contacts can be persuaded to attend. The adequate X-ray facilities
available at the Clinic make it possible to keep up the very high
average of 5 contacts X-rayed per new notification, which is much
higher than the national average of just over 2. It might here be
said that by making full use of the 70 mm. Odelca camera, the
cost of X-ray films here is a fraction of that of departments using
only full-size X-rays.
The efficacy of B.C.G. vaccination has now been generally
accepted and the Medical Research Council's report published early
in 1956 adds authority to this opinion. B.C.G. vaccination has been
offered to all contacts and nurses and other hospital staff and since
1950 when this work commenced some 700 individuals have been
vaccinated. Not one of these has been known subsequently to
have developed tuberculosis. In 1955 there was an extension of
this scheme by the London County Council to include school leavers
and the Chest Physician does assist in certain small ways with this
work.
The new scheme of occupational therapy provided in patients'
homes, which was started in 1955, has continued to work most successfully,
much to the benefit of patients.
Social Work.
The Clinic is fortunate in having an active Care Committee with
voluntary funds, largely raised by the sale of Christmas Seals and
donations, at its disposal. These funds are dispersed by the Committee
for the benefit of patients. It is possible in this way either
to supplement official sources of help, or to provide assistance where
no statutory aid is available. The Committee has provided holidays
for needy patients and their families, bought food, clothing and
furnishing in necessitous cases, and also helped with a wide variety