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Mass X-Ray Campaign, 10th October to 4th November.
For the past fifteen years or so mass radiography has played an
important part in the control of tuberculosis and in the discovery of
other abnormalities of the lungs, including cancer conditions. For
several years, a Mass X-Ray Unit of the North-East Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board has visited the Borough from time to time
X-raying members of the public, factory employees and other groups of
people. Lately, in order no doubt to ensure that the best possible
use is made of the Units, intensive local surveys have been carried
out in various parts of the country, notably Glasgow, Liverpool and
Exeter.
A similar intensive survey was carried out, for the first time in
London, in this Borough from 10th October to 4th November this year.
The preparation and organisation of the campaign which extended over
several months was carried out jointly by the staffs of the four
Mobile Units employed and the Public Health Department. The Borough
Council readily agreed to authorise the expenditure necessary to
augment that of the Regional Hospital Board in promoting an intensive
publicity campaign. Posters were displayed on sites large and small
throughout the Borough; a loudspeaker van toured the area, and leaflets
were delivered to every household. The Press, local and national, were
most co-operative in giving publicity to the campaign, and the British
Broadcasting Company featured the campaign several times in radio and
television programmes. The proprietors of local shops and businesses
generously donated 80 prizes for use in a novel Lucky X-Ray Number
publicity effort. Her Worship the Mayor devoted much of her time to
visiting each of the Units and several celebrities of stage, screen
and radio attended to be X-rayed and to present the prizes.
In spite of all our efforts, however, the result so far as the
number of persons X-rayed was concerned can be said to be rather disappointing.
17,823 persons were X-rayed, not all, by any means, being
residents of Stepney. The Borough's estimated resident population over
the age of 15 is 73,300, whilst the estimated daytime population of
adults is 115,300. The number of clinically significant cases of
tuberculosis revealed so far by the survey is 4.0, or 2.2 persons per
1,000 X-rayed. Did the end justify the means? The purist might say
that the time, energy and expense devoted to such a campaign would be
well justified if only a single case of tuberculosis were discovered.
By this yardstick the campaign was a resounding success, but nevertheless
one is left with the feeling that it is a pity the public is so apathetic
towards the efforts expended to safeguard their health in a campaign of
this nature.
Final results of the campaign are not yet available as there are
22 cases still to be diagnosed. Of the 40 cases requiring immediate
treatment or close clinic supervision 31 were males. In addition 32
cases require occasional clinic supervision. Nine cases of lung
cancer were discovered, and 54 other abnormalities. Stepney residents
accounted for 27 of the 40 significant cases of lung tuberculosis.
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