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154
culin tests. No active tuberculosis was found amongst these nor
their family contacts but in view of the fact that these children
were found to be positive at school age it was felt worth while
to keep them under observation with annual X-rays for a few
years to be sure that there was no tuberculous disease developing.
112 children and young adults were given B.C.G. inoculation
because they were contacts of cases with tuberculosis.
We are continuing to keep under supervision with annual, or
sometimes more frequent, X-rays all those people who have had
tuberculous disease in the past, as a precaution against relapse. Of
these patients 9 who have had tuberculous disease in the past have
been found to have had a relapse of their disease during the year.
Our beds for tuberculous patients have been transferred to
Grove Park Hospital from Vanbrugh Ward, St. Alfege's Hospital
during the year. This arrangement is not so suitable for relatives
who have to travel further to visit patients but the arrangements
for the care of these patients at Grove Park Hospital are proving
very satisfactory.
Although there are less new cases of tuberculous disease and
there are fewer patients attending the Clinic under treatment for
tuberculosis, there are many problems which arise concerning those
who have had the disease in the past. Most important is disability
due to breathlessness in which the disease has left residual lung
damage and this is liable to have an increasing affect on their
activity as they grow older. Both for these and those with bronchitis
who are similarly affected in the older age groups there are
difficulties in finding suitable employment. Unfortunately many
of these are unable to find suitable work to the detriment of their
morale. This group of disabled persons is liable to increase as
time goes on and perhaps some form of sheltered workshops would
be of help.
In order to keep up their interest our Occupational Therapist
visits a number of these and persuades them to undertake some
form of occupational therapy.
Housing is still a problem for many of these increasingly
disabled and older persons for whom an environment free of dampness,
dust and other air pollution is important and also a minimum
of stairs.
As well as the investigation and treatment of tuberculous
patients an ever increasing amount of work in the Clinic is being
devoted to non-tuberculous chest conditions, such as cancer of
the lung, bronchitis and asthma.