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The analysis of the housing conditions of 69 newly notified cases shows that 44 lived
in houses; 3 in flats; 22 in lodgings.
Information was not available with regard to the other 29 cases for the following
reasons:—
2 of the cases were among 4 not confirmed as Tuberculosis;
16 cases were patients in St. Bernard's Hospital;
7 transferred out to other districts after a short stay in Southall;
1 died;
1 could not be traced;
2 were in reality old cases thought to be recurring, but subsequently found to be
recovered.
Of the 69 cases above, 16 were inward transfers, i.e. did not contract the disease in
Southall.
There were eleven cases notified from overcrowded houses, eight Indian, one West
Indian, one Irish, and one English, and one notification of an English child from a dilapidated
house needing urgent repairs. Overcrowding was abated in one instance and some
repairs carried out on the dilapidated house.
In 17 instances, there were multiple cases. Statutory overcrowding was confirmed
in one of these houses. The number of patients was two in fourteen instances, and three in
three instances.
All cases of overcrowding and dilapidation having a patient notified in 1963 were
relieved by the end of 1964, either by rehousing or outward transfer.
Three overcrowdings from the 1962 list were still not abated.
One patient from the 1960 notifications living in dilapidated property, due to be
demolished after the rehousing of the tenants, was still in residence at the same address.
Management of Tuberculosis
For diagnostic purposes, Southall patients are mostly referred either by general
practitioners or from hospital doctors to the Uxbridge Chest Clinic, and if tuberculosis is
found, treatment and following-up is instituted from that Clinic. The Tuberculosis Visitor
calls at the home of a patient and submits a copy of her report to the Public Health Department.
Contacts are seen by the Visitor and they have suitable tests, either tuberculin tests
or X-rays, or both, at the Chest Clinic. If sanitary defects or overcrowding are reported,
further visiting is carried out from the Public Health Department.
B.C.G. Vaccination
At St. Bernard's Hospital, cases of tuberculosis are isolated in Adelaide Ward, which
has 24 male and 24 female beds. One of the doctors from Uxbridge Chest Clinic continues
to carry out tuberculin testing and B.C.G. vaccination of members of the nursing staff of
the hospital. All new members of the staff at this Hospital have routine X-ray examination
before commencement of duty.
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