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There were thus l4 active cases of pulmonary tuberculosis disclosed by
the survey. This gives a ratio of 2.08 per 1000 examinations. This is
considerably better than on our previous visit when the incidence was 3.84
per 1000.
All necessary action had been taken in respect of the cases, both
tuberculous and non-tuberculous, requiring further medical attention.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for your kind
assistance in procuring the Minor Hall, and for the very valuable help of
your Department in the conduct of the survey."
Reference to my report for 1950 will show that on the last survey by
this Unit, which lasted from 29th November, 1950, to 5th February, 1951,
only 4,160 attendances were made for X-ray examination, whereas in 1952,
in a much shorter period, the attendances were 6,912. This is due, I feel,
not only to the increasing public awareness of the desirability of periodic
X-ray examination of the chest, but also to the location of the Unit at the
Town Hall, the focal point of the borough, rather than at the Church Road
Clinic and the Drill Hall, Vicarage Lane, as was the case in 1950/51.
The Medical Research Council's trials of B.C.G. vaccine mentioned in
my reports for 1950 and 1951 continue. The final inoculation of volunteers
took place from 22nd to 28th February and on this occasion 163 school-leavers
volunteered to take part in the trials. Forty-six of these were inoculated
with B.C.G. vaccine and forty were held as controls.
Since the inception of these trials in 1950, therefore, 657 schoolleavers
have volunteered to assist, and of these 175 have been inoculated
with B.C.G. vaccine and 172 are acting as controls.
Each volunteer either vaccinated or acting as a control will be kept
under surveillance for three years, and for this purpose the Medical
Research Council Team will return to East Ham periodically to re-examine
groups of volunteers. The first of these follow-up visits took place from
8th to 17th July, 1952, when 194 volunteers were due to be seen. In
co-operation with the neighbouring County Borough of West Ham, visited by
the team immediately prior to the above dates, appropriate publicity was
arranged in the local press, and through some of the local cinemas. 143
volunteers attended for re-examination and arrangements were made for the
local Mass Radiography Unit to contact the remaining 51.
In addition to these follow-up visits by the Medical Research Council
staff, the Health Visitors also maintain contact with the volunteers and
report on their state of health.
The trials continue, and further reports will be made.