London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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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, staff are referred to
the Mobile Mass Radiography Units or the static unit at Drayton
Park, but the difficulties in such an arrangement are obvious when
compared with local facilities.
All staff engaged in the school meals service are also subjected
to X-ray examination of the chest on appointment.
(b) Tuberculosis Vaccine Trials (Medical Research Council).—
Dr. T. M. Pollock, Physician in charge of the vaccine trials, reports
that of the 277 young people invited for their sixth annual X-ray,
152 attended, i.e. 55 per cent. and of these 56 per cent completed
the skin tests. In addition thirty-nine attended of the 161 who
defaulted on the previous occasion.
(c) B.C.G. Vaccination of School Leavers.—The scheme
followed was described in the Report for 1954 and continued during
the year under review.
The Heaf multiple puncture apparatus has been used exclusive!)
during 1958 and with complete success.
All secondary schools have been visited during the year and of the 2,147 children invited 1,218 accepted, giving an acceptance rate of 56.7 per cent.
| 1958 | 1957 | 1956 | 1955 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Heaf positive. | 131 | 165 | 176 | 109 |
| Percentage positive | 11.6 | 13.8 | 14.2 | 13.0 |
| Number of Heaf negative | 995 | 1,026 | 1,064 | 740 |
| Number absent | 92 | 55 | 28 | 8 |
| B.C.G. given | 995 | 1,026 | 1,053 | 728 |
| Absent or not done | — | — | 11 | 12 |
By arrangement with the Chest Physician all the Heaf positive
children were offered chest x-ray at the Chest Clinic. None were
found to have active disease.
No complications as defined in Section 18 of the Ministry of
Health Memo 324/BCG have arisen, although many children have
been seen with small ulcers which are a normal concomitant of
successful vaccination. These children have been seen owing
mainly to parental apprehension, although a fully explanatory
leaflet is given to each child vaccinated.
Arrangements have continued for family doctors to be notified
when children on their lists in this age group are Heaf positive or
have been vaccinated.
785 conversion tests were carried out on children who were
given B.C.G. in 1958. Sixteen gave a negative result to the test but
all showed a good vaccination scar.