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no evidence at all of infection in the childhood population.
(9) Arising from the whole investigation I would make the following
recommendation:-
That one of the first groups of the population for whom evidence
of the absence of Tuberculosis in an infectious form, or in a form
likely to be infectious, Should be made a condition of employment,
should be school teachers. That your Education Authority, should
proceed with this reform forthwith."
Your Committee aftor considering the foregoing report in
conduction with paragraph 72 of the Board's Memorandum on 'Closure of
and Exclusion from School' decided to explore the possibility of
carrying out further tests.
The following report was then presented:-
"The report ??? presented by Dr. Ramsay in connection with the
above investigation has been discussed at length with Dr. Sheldon and
Dr. Ramsay and the following further observations are offered.
(1) The primary objective of the investigation was to assess the
effect on the children attending certain classes in School "A"
resulting from the discovery of a class teacher suffering from open
tuberculosis. The findings were extremely favourable in view of the
fact that no new case of Tuberculosis was discovered in these classes.
(2) The secondary objective was to try and determine the rate of
infection of Tuberculosis in school children and as stated in
paragraph 8(b) of Dr. Ramsay's report the findings here again have
been favourable. In this connection it should be stressed that an
infected child does not necessarily mean a child actually suffering
from Tuberculosis.
(3) In view of the fact that the primary, and the secondary
objectives of the investigations have been secured it is felt that
further investigations are not now necessary, since this investigation
should be repeated in every future case when a school teacher is
discovered to be suffering from open tuberculosis. If and when this
becomes necessary it is possible that the assistance of a miniature
mass radiography unit will be available to supplement the
investigations,
In the meantime, however, it is not possible to suggest the use
of the miniature radiography unit which is primarily required to
detect adult cases of Tuberculosis which are the main infecting
sources in the community,
(4) The recommendation contained in Item 9 of Dr. Ramsay's report
i.e., that all teaching staff should receive a specialist examination
to exclude Tuberculosis before employment is agreed. This is stressed
because it does not follow that where similar circumstances arise in
the future the result would necessarily be so favourable".
Your Committee then decided that the usual medical examination of
all new teachers before entering the service should include a chest
X-ray examination. This was subsequently arranged with the
co-operation of the County Medical Officer and Dr. Ramsay. It was
also decided to make enquiries from the existing staff as to willingness
to undergo X-ray examination.
I would like to t&ke this opportunity of thanking Dr. Bullough,
County Medical Officer, and Dr. Ramsay, for their ready help and
co-operation in regard to this investigation.
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