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be of use, when the results were tabulated and summarised, to the
preventive services, no one grudged the time spent on visiting the
homes and completing the questionnaires (many at great length)
and arranging medical examinations, etc., if such were required by
the authority interested in the research.
In Leyton since 1946 the staff have assisted in the following
projects :—
1. A survey of social and economic aspects of pregnancy and
childbirth undertaken by a joint committee of the Royal College of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Population Investigation
Committee. This consisted at first of visiting and obtaining much
information about every child born in Leyton during one week in
March, 1946. Every area of the country took part in this survey and
much useful information was obtained, since reported upon in the
medical press. These children are still being followed up and the
survey is now being carried on by the Population Investigation
Committee, the Society of Medical Officers of Health and the Child
Health Institute of the University of London. There are some
13-14 children still under review in Leyton, reported on by the
School Medical Officer, the Health Visitor and the School Nurse.
Now that these children are in school, information on their progress
is available.
2. In August, 1950, the Tuberculosis Research Unit of the
Medical Research Council initiated a very useful piece of research
work into the preventive aspect of B.C.G. inoculations given to
school leavers in secondary schools. Leyton was one of the areas
chosen to participate in the work. It started in 1950, and still
continues. Some 250 children are in this investigation. They are
visited twice yearly by the Health Visitor/School Nurse, and twice
yearly four evenings are given up to helping at the skin testing:
and X-ray sessions when the Medical Research Council Tuberculosis
Research Units visits Leyton. This piece of research work into the
value of B.C.G. vaccination is of great interest, and its results,
which will not be completed for another two years at least, are
eagerly awaited as upon the findings of the work will depend future
policy as regard the giving of B.C.G. vaccination to susceptible
members of the population.
3. In 1952 we agreed to take part in a survey initiated by the
Institute of Preventive Medicine in Cardiff whereby all children