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WORK OF THE CHEST CLINICS
I have pleasure in submitting the following report and Table on
the work of the Chest Clinics during the year under review, forwarded
to me by Dr. D. G. Madigan, Chest Physician, to whom I express
my thanks:—
"Statistical details of new patients from Beckenham Borough
attending the Chest Clinics during 1963 are given in the attached
table.
No particular comment upon the figures is called for, as they
reflect the pattern of recent years.
In the field of Tuberculosis control there appears to be undue
complacency in Britain today, and this is an attitude towards the
disease that must be challenged assiduously. Some enlightened
countries are beginning to talk about eradication of Tuberculosis,
but I do not think we can begin to talk about eradication in this
country until we have tightened up our methods of control.
Adequate co-operation from all sections of the community
depends upon all being imbued with a sense of purpose, and this
can only be achieved by well directed and persistent propaganda
to this end. Complacency may well cause us to lose ground in the
fight against this disease, whereas we should be advancing towards
a position whence an all-out effort at eradication could be embarked
upon.
Immigration has introduced a serious problem in certain
industrial centres, and may have adverse repercussions on
Tuberculosis control.
The danger arising out of patients not taking drugs as
prescribed is also a problem which still persists."

B.C.G. Vaccination of contacts : 81.
Patients admitted to Hospital or Sanatorium suffering from
Tuberculosis during 1963 : 32.
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