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Child Guidance
A proposal to establish a child guidance centre in Tottenham, within
the existing accommodation at the Cornwall Road School Clinic, was
approved during the year. The necessary alterations to the premises
have, at the time of writing, been almost completed and it is anticipated
that the centre will commence operations in April, 1953. Such a centre
will be of great benefit to Tottenham mothers and children and will save
them the long journey to the Child Guidance Training Centre in London.
B.C.G. Inoculations
The Medical Research Council continued their investigations in the
area into the prevention of tuberculosis by B.C.G vaccination.
In 1951 the investigation had been concerned with accepting "school
leaver" volunteers into the scheme. In 1952 the important task of
following up the inoculated and the control groups was commenced.
It can easily be appreciated that the success of the trial depends on the
completeness of the follow-up, for without being able to assess the results
of B.C.G. vaccination by comparing a large inoculated group with a
control group no estimate of the value of the vaccine can be obtained.
The follow-up is carried out in three ways:—
(1) An annual x-ray and skin test. Sessions are held at a convenient
centre between 4.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to enable young people who are
at work to attend with the minimum of disruption to their employers.
The employers themselves are encouraged, by means of letters sent
out by the Youth Employment Officer, to release any of their employees
who are included in the trials. Publicity is also given in the press and by
slides at local cinemas.
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