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114
per thousand, and that this figure has not materially changed over
the last ten years. Valuable work has been done by B.C.G. vaccination
but the duration of the protection thus given is uncertain and
in any event it will be many years before the number of persons
protected in this way rises to a sufficient level to achieve any material
effect. The only other means of reduction of the infectious pool
is by mass radiography, and this service should be directed at examining
the largest possible number of adults who have not been previously
X-rayed. Attention must, of course, be given to certain high
incidence groups, but these groups represent a very small part of the
population and an equally small part of the total pool of infection.
As far as the Borough of Greenwich is concerned, due to its
particular geographical lay-out, we have always been up against
the problem in the past of finding a focal point that would serve all
parts of the community. The best site, and the most known one,
has been at the Greenwich Public Baths, which the Council have put
at our disposal on several occasions. In 1957 there were administrative
difficulties which prevented our using the Baths during the summer
months, and we decided to experiment with a mobile caravan
for office accommodation. This partly did away with our dependence
on buildings and we took the opportunity to penetrate into
parts of the Borough we have not previously tackled.
A great many possible sites were seen and considered but
finally, with the advice of the Town Clerk and the Borough Engineer,
five sites were chosen. They were at Charlton House, Batley Park,
Greenwich Station, Christ Church and the Cecil Rooms. They were
chosen with three objects in mind. First of all, they had to be places
well known to the public ; secondly, sites that could be easily seen
from the main highways ; and lastly, the natural centres of communities.
The response was reasonable throughout the period but
the Unit could have X-rayed far higher numbers during the available
times. We should have liked to see many more of the small
firms and shops vigorously supporting the daytime sessions.
In addition to the public centres, the Unit visited all the major
industrial concerns. Here again, although much co-operation is
given by the managements, we should like to see an even higher
response from the workpeople. It is only by X-raying a very large
proportion of the population that tuberculosis will eventually be
eradicated.
These surveys resulted in the figures which are quoted elsewhere
in this Report."