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Unit's Results
During 1964 the Unit examined 40,172 males and 24,189 females making a total of 64,361
which is below the average of the past few years. This arose through the uncertainty of the Unit's
removal from 20, Golden Lane, E.C.1, to its new premises at the Public Services Building, Milton
Court, Milton Street, E.C.2. which although anticipated on several occasions during 1964 did
not materialise.
Up to the end of 1964 the Unit has examined 537,439 males and 354,557 females - making a
grand total of 891,996 since it commenced operations in May, 1950.
Thirty-nine cases (26 males and 13 females) with a significant tuberculous lesion have been
discovered which gives an overall rate of .606 per 1,000 examinees. The rate of significant cases
for men was .647 and for women it was .537 per 1,000. This denotes an increase in the male
incident, with a slight decrease in females.
The highest incidence of tubercle was discovered in men within the 55-59 and 65 plus Age
Groups, while groups between the ages of 25-54 show about a fifty per cent increase over last
year's findings. The highest incidence for women was found in the 25-34 Age Group which is
contrary to our normal findings.
Of the thirty-nine cases of tubercle cited above twenty-eight (20 male and 8 female) were
found while the Unit was operating at the Mass Radiography Centre, 20, Golden Lane, E.C.I.
Twenty cases of carcinoma of the bronchus (19 male and 1 female) were discovered during the
year which is a further increase on previous years. Of this total 12 male cases were found at the
Golden Lane Centre.
Doctor's Referrals
Doctor's in our zone have been constantly advised of the services of the Unit. Doctor's
referrals have produced an incident rate of 11.494 per 1,000 examinees which shows a further
increase on previous years' results.
Medical Procedure
Abnormal cases are referred to the appropriate Chest Clinic through the examinee's own
doctor. Clinics have recorded their sputum findings. Fourteen cases with a positive sputum have
been reported of which nine were male and five female.
Cases outside the purview of a Chest Clinic have been referred to St. Bartholomew's Hospital
and the ready co-operation of Dr. N.C. Oswald and Dr. Graham Hayward is gratefully acknowledged
as is the helpful assistance rendered by Dr. W.G. Swann and his staff."
WELL-WOMEN'S CLINIC
This clinic, set up with City Corporation funds in 1958, is now well established, and it is a
source of justifiable satisfaction that, at a time when the Ministry of Health is recommending
Local Health Authorities and Hospital Boards to take action, the Corporation of London and
St. Bartholomew's Hospital can claim seven years of first class work in this important field.
During the year, four hundred and forty women were seen (443 attendances) at the clinic, involving
the examination of 886 smears. The examination of these smears is a highly skilled
process, and as cytologists with the necessary skill are in very short supply, the examination
of such a large number of smears is no small feat. Only one positive case and a few non-malignant
conditions were found, but who can measure the worth of the reassurance and peace of mind
afforded by the examination?
It is of interest to note that research carried out by the Department of Chemical Pathology
at St. Bartholomew's Hospital into the possibility of finding a chemical indicator of the presence
of early cervical carcinoma has not yet been successful but the search goes on.
Mammography of clinically normal patients is a method of discovering very early malignancy
of the breast at a time when the chances of cure are at a maximum. This work, once again supported
by City Funds, commenced at St. Bartholomew's Hospital on 31st August, 1964. Since then
140 patients, aged 40 years or more, have been examined, of which number 120 proved to be
normal, 16 showed a variety of benign conditions and 4 showed conditions the nature of which was
in doubt. One of them was found at operation to be benign, two are being kept under close
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