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(h) B.C.G. Vaccination against Tuberculosis is provided for
children who are in contact with Tuberculosis. This new service
has just been introduced. It is necessary for a child undergoing
B.C.G. Vaccination to be kept away from the source of infection
for three months. This can in certain cases be achieved by
arranging for the child to be cared for during that period by a
foster mother, but it is also intended to set up a residential home
for this purpose at an early date.
(i) Finally there should be mentioned the great amount of
good work which is done for Tuberculous persons and their families
by voluntary Tuberculosis Care Associations. There are sixteen of
these Associations, covering the whole of the County, and all of
them are given full encouragement by the County Council,
including financial assistance.
The number of visits made by the Tuberculosis Health Visitors
during 1950 has been as follows:—
Walthamstow 945
Forest Area 383
Total 1,328
POLIOMYELITIS FOLLOW-UP
During the course of their routine duties the health visitors
visited all known cases of poliomyelitis. This disease first became
notifiable in 1912, and up to the end of 1949 the total of notified
cases was 147, of whom 19 died in the year of notification.
Unfortunately records previous to 1935 are not now available,
and the total number of cases reviewed was 74. Of these 57 were
visited, eight were not traced, and nine were dead.
Of the 57 cases alive only two were unable to walk. The
disabilities were :—
Headache 2 Paralysis—
Paralysis— One leg 8
One side 1 Foot 3
Shoulder, back, arm 1 Weakness, one leg 12
Shoulder and arms 2
One arm 3 Total 39
Arms and legs 2
Both legs 5
These 39 disabled cases represented some 69 per cent. of all
cases remaining alive. There were no disabilities in 18 cases.