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Mantoux testing at another school as part of the B.C.G. vaccination
programme revealed an unusually high number of strong positives. An
epidemiological investigation had been carried out during the previous
year at this school as the result of the discovery of a case of tuberculosis
in a school child. Nevertheless, after consultation with the chest physician
it was thought desirable to recommend that all the teachers be x-rayed
and this was done. Fortunately all were found to be healthy.

During 1956 patch testing of school entrants was carried out on all
children whose parents gave consent and the results are given above.
The percentage positive is very small, a fact in line with the findings at
Mantoux testing of 13 year olds. The Tottenham percentage of positives
is higher than in Hornsey but the number is small. All of these children
were referred to the chest clinic for further investigation and follow-up
of family contacts but no case of active tuberculosis was discovered in
this way. It may well be that the routine annual patch testing of children
attending at toddler clinics may prove to be a more fruitful source of
primary cases and this has indeed begun at one clinic.
B.C.G. Vaccination
The B.C.G. vaccination campaign has continued in our schools in 1956
and followed the scheme outlined in last year's Annual Report. The
service has been extended to include schools other than those of the
Local Education Authority and the B.C.G. vaccination team visited
Highgate School in December.
Vaccination against tuberculosis, by means of the avirulent B.C.G.
vaccine, was carried out on all tuberculin negative children in the 13-14
age group whose parents gave consent.
The accompanying table shows that the successful start made in 1955
has been continued in 1956.
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