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been made possible by the close co-operation of the many local health authorities throughout
the country. The work has involved the home visiting and X-raying of large numbers of
participants.
In 1959 the Medical Research Council X-ray Unit visited Brentford Health Centre
and 41 out of the 48 Trial participants living in Southall were invited to attend; of these 30
kept their X-ray appointment.
In view of the duration of the investigation which has been going on since 1950, the
proportion of participants who continue to attend for X-ray is highly satisfactory.
It is expected that the Trial will continue in its present form until August, 1960, and
the final visit to Brentford will be paid in the week beginning Tuesday, 26th April. At this
visit it is hoped to X-ray as many as possible of the participants still living in the area.
Research into Incidence of New Tuberculosis in the Adolescent
In previous reports this piece of research has been described, the purpose of it being to
ascertain the amount of tuberculosis occurring during the first years in industry or office life
of young persons. This is now the seventh year of the experiment and up to date no active
cases have been found amongst adolescents taking part in the investigation in Southall.
516 ex-school leavers were tested during the visit of the Mass X-ray Unit into the Borough.
During the year a visit was made to Southall by the Mobile Mass X-ray Unit, and three
small groups of people were X-rayed including the group of ex-school leavers already reported
above. From the others, totalling 362, two positive cases were found.
Mass X-ray
There is now available at the West Middlesex Hospital a static Mass X-ray Unit, the
second to be introduced in Middlesex, and while primarily intended for the use of hospital
patients, there is an open invitation for any member of the public to attend at any time when
the Unit is working, for a check. This is a most useful undertaking and supplements the
work done during the visits of the Mobile Unit to Southall. It also saves the need, in most
cases, of reference by appointment to the Chest X-ray Clinic for a large film to be taken.
Dr. J. T. Nicol Roe, Chest Physician, Uxbridge Chest Clinic, reports that, in spite of
the steady diminution of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, it still remains a considerable
public health problem which must continue to be attacked by all means at our disposal.
There is no doubt that treatment is best carried out in hospital, especially in the early stages.
The stay in hospital is less than was necessary some years ago. The taking of anti-tuberculous
drugs must continue for a few years and it is most important that they are taken conscientiously.
The slight deterioration in the Southall figures supports him in this.
Dr. Nicol Roe also states that the need for the X-ray and tuberculin testing in Indian
immigrants continues and urges that efforts should be made to encourage a visit to the Chest
Clinic by every new Indian resident in Southall.

Of those originally skin tested, 26 failed to return to the Clinic for reading of the test.
With regard to prevention and early detection of cases, contacts both at home and
factory or workshop should have regular X-rays and/or Tuberculin Tests. Full use should
continue to be made of the Mass X-ray Unit's visits to the Borough.
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