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30
9. PROTECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AGAINST
TUBERCULOSIS
(a) Chest X-ray Examination of Teachers on Appointment.—
The position in regard to this matter was set out in the Report
for 1951, including the reasons leading to the cessation of the
former practice of requiring all newly appointed staff (except
clerical) to undergo a chest X-ray examination.
Although the local Chest Clinic has been equipped with an
Odelca miniature X-ray apparatus, it has so far not proved possible
for staff to be referred as a routine.
Instead, every endeavour has been made to refer staff for chest
X-ray examination at the Mobile Mass Radiography Units and the
static units at Finsbury and Holloway Road, but the difficulties in
such an arrangement are obvious when compared with local
facilities.
(b) Special Follow-up by Mass Radiography.—
In the Autumn a case of infectious pulmonary tuberculosis was
notified who had been in attendance at a Grammar School.
Parents of all children who might have been in contact were invited
to consent to examination at the Mass X-ray Unit, which made a
special visit to the school for the purpose. The result of the
examination was satisfactory.
(c) Tuberculosis Vaccine Trials (Medical Research Council).—
The follow-up of the vaccinated and control groups begun in
June 1952 continued during 1954.
Dr. T. M. Pollock reports as follows:—
"Once again we had a very good response in Walthamstow
and the completed figures show that 79% of the young people
returned for their second annual re-examination. Of these young
people 76% completed their skin test. In addition 34% of those
who failed to come last time took advantage of the further invitation."
(d) Jelly Testing of School Children.
This was begun in 1953 and was described in the Report for
last year.