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Certificates were issued in respect of 115 consignments of rags
and waste material exported to Spain and Italy to the effect that the
area was free from smallpox and yellow fever.
Tuberculosis
I am indebted to Dr.R.M.Orpwood, M.R.C.S.,L.R.C,D.P.H., Chest
Physician at the Stepney Chest Clinic, for the following report on
Tuberculosis in the Borough:-
"One of the commonest mistakes today in relation to the study of the
progress made against infectious disease is the view, quite frequently
quoted, that Tuberculosis has already been conquered and need no longer
be considered a serious problem.
"It is true that the number of people who die from this disease
has been markedly reduced in the whole country (a reduction in which
Stepney has shared). This has been due mainly to improved methods
of treatment, new drugs, etc. In the number of fresh cases diagnosed,
however, the reduction has not been so marked. It should be noted
that the death rate in England and Wales between 1950 and 1960 dropped
by over 80%, but the notification rate over the same period dropped by
only 25%. This fact can give no cause for complacency or lessening of
effort. A similar drop in the number of fresh cases of Tuberculosis
in Stepney diagnosed for the first time has been slow to show itself
in recent years, mainly because of the relatively unchanged proportion
of new cases discovered amongst specialised groups of population
commonly found in Stepney and similar areas, e.g. lodging house inmates,
vagrants, immigrants from overseas, etc. For several years the latter
group has formed about a quarter to a fifth of the total new cases in
Stepney. This proportion, however, is showing signs of decreasing and
the position may be expected to improve in this respect during the next
5 to 10 years, provided no large scale immigration without adequate
medical safeguards is resumed.
"During 1962 the use of all the well-established methods of
detection of this disease has been pursued. The Stepney Chest Clinic,
which is under the control of the Stepney Group Hospital Management
Committee, remains, apart from its other functions in the diagnosis and
treatment of non-tuberculous chest conditions, the centre of the attack
on Tuberculosis.
"The facilities for the examination of any suspected case of
tuberculosis continue to be available for patients referred by general
practitioners, or by other medical departments in Hospitals and the
School Medical Service. The family "contacts" are seen at regular
intervals as they form a group which are specially liable to contract
this disease. Fewer contacts are found at the. present time to have
tuberculosis mainly because of the efficacy of B.C.G. (anti-T.B.)
vaccination; the latter is available at the Chest Clinic for this
specialised group.
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