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23
The steady yearly falls in both the number of notifications
and deaths from tuberculosis so well shown in the
two graphs in our last report can be attributed not to
one, but to a combination of factors, viz. the natural
epidemiological curve, the pasteurisation of milk, improved
case finding due to Mass Radiography, the use of antibiotics
and the advances made in the technique of chest
surgery and the management of tuberculous patients.
The Borough of Haling is participating in a clinical
trial of B.C,G. vaccination.
In our Borough as the following survey shows there
were almost 1,000 volunteers and these were divided into
three groups.
Intake,
Total No, of volunteers in trial 998
No. Mantoux positive to OT 1/3000 and 1/100 339
No. vaccinated with B.C.G. 335
No. of unvaccinated controls 330
Follow Up.,
Average figure for returns of postal forms 84%
Average figure of Home visits by Health
visitors 92%
Average of volunteers returning for X-ray 75%
It will be noted that no less than l/3rd of the number
of volunteers, and half of the number with a negative
result to the Tuberculin test, have been vaccinated with
B.C.G.
The follow up of our volunteers has so far also been
eminently satisfactory.
WHOOPING COUGH,
The number of cases notified was a little higher than
in the previous year. 156 notifications were received. In
1954 there were 116.