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Tuberculosis
The number of notifications of tuberculosis in 1957 was 78 as compared with
95 in the previous year, the pulmonary cases amounting to 76 and the non-pulmonary
to 2. The number of deaths from this disease was four as compared with
six in 1956, seven in 1955 and four in 1954
The figure of 78 notifications includes 29 inward transfers i. e.. cases
notified because they had removed into the borough but who had previously contracted
the disease elsewhere.,. This leaves a total of 49 new cases of tuberculosis
occurring within the borough, and this compares with a figure of 59 in
1956. Therefore it can be seen that the total notification rate has fallen and
the total number of cases occurring within the borough has also fallen.
The figures create a new low record for notifications in Brentford and
Chiswick and the number of deaths i.e. 4, although not a low record, equals the
lowest figure ever obtained before, which was in the year 1954
Facilities for diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis as well
as prevention and after care are provided by the Hounslow Chest Clinic, and
home visiting is carried out by Health Visitors attached to this Clinic. They
are also responsible for the examination of contacts and for the B C G. inoculation
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; 49 residing in this Borough were inoculated during 1957
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
During 1957 the Tuberculosis Vaccines Clinical Trial continued.
This investigation began in 1951. its object being to determine the value
of tuberculosis vaccines when used on a mass scale in this country Twenty-two
North London boroughs, including Brentford and Chiswick, and areas in the Midlands
and North of England are co-operating with the Medical Research Council
in the investigation
During 1951/52 pupils aged 14 in Secondary Modern Schools were invited to
join the scheme., and 60,000 children eventually took part. Of these approximately
200 at present live in Brentford and Chiswick. All the children had a
chest X-ray and were given a skin test to decide whether or not they were eligible
for vaccination A proportion of these who were eligible were given either
B C. G or vole bacillus vaccine. Since then it has been the task of those
administering the scheme to keep in touch with all the participants to find out
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