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for the prevention of tuberculosis. B, C, G. inoculation is now offered to all
the Mantoux negative, i.e. susceptible, contacts of newly discovered tuberculosis
cases; 74 residing in this Borough were inoculated during 1956.
A prominent part in the treatment is played by domiciliary chemo-therapy
(i.e. treatment with suitable drugs or injections given at home) on the recommendation
of the Chest Physician, with the aid of the Home Nurses (formerly
District Nurses) provided by the Middlesex County Council.
Apart from institutional treatment provided by the local Hospital Management
Committees of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in General
Hospitals and in Chest Hospitals, there is also a Middlesex County Council
Hostel for chronic ambulant male tuberculous patients.
Facilities for convalescence, rehabilitation and training are provided by
the Middlesex County Council and the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board.
The social side of the treatment and prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis
is dealt with by the Welfare Department of the Hounslow Chest Clinic.
Tuberculosis Vaccines Clinical Trial
The first report of the Medical Research Council's investigation into the
value of vaccination against tuberculosis was published during the year. Brentford
and Chiswick has been co-operating in this investigation since its beginning
in 1951. The first report of the investigation has shown that vaccination
for children in their fifteenth year substantially reduces the risk of contracting
tuberculosis in adolescence
Background of the Investigation
The value of vaccination against tuberculosis has been a matter of dispute
since its introduction into Prance more than 30 years ago. During this time
there has been a gradual accumulation of evidence in favour of the vaccine, and
by 1949 its value for those exposed to special risk from tuberculosis, such as
nurses and contacts with cases of the disease, was generally recognised. In
1949 vaccination for contacts was authorised by the Ministry of Health, and in
1953 vaccination in older school children was introduced at the discretion of
each local health authority. However, until the extent of the contribution
which B. C. G. vaccination might be expected to make could be accurately assessed
many public health authorities considered that its introduction on a wide scale
was not justified, particularly in view of the recent advances made in other
aspects of tuberculosis control.
The first report establishes beyond question the short-term value of B. C. G.
vaccination of young people in this country, and shows that vaccination at the
age of 14 and 15 should reduce the number of cases of the disease developing
between the ages of 14 and 17 by about half. This represents a valuable contribution
to the prevention of tuberculosis.
Description of Investigation
The effort to establish the value of these vaccines scientifically has
necessitated an extensive investigation,, probably the most detailed of its kind
ever undertaken. The success achieved has been made possible by close co-operation
of Medical Officers of Health and Chest Physicians in many parts of
Britain with the Medical Research Council.
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