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if the protection conferred by the vaccines is sufficient to make mass vaccination
worth while.
One of the ways this follow-up has been continued has been by annual visits
to the homes of the participants. These visits have been carried out by health
visitorson the staff of the local health authorities to obtain information about
the health of the volunteers. The visits are also of great value in maintaining
the interest which has been shown in the scheme by the participants.
Another important aspect of the investigation has-been the provision of a
routine annual chest X-ray for the participants. This examination has been done
by a Medical Research Council mobile X-ray unit. Appointments are sent to the
participants to attend the unit in the evenings after work. During 1957, two
visits were made by the Unit to the Brentford Health Centre, Albany Road, Brentford,
and of 172 young people invited, 131 attended for X-ray, that is; 76%.
In addition, 17 who failed to attend the previous examination came for X-ray
during 1957.
The first progress report of this investigation was published in 1956.
The findings provided unequivocal evidence of the value of tuberculosis vaccines
in the prevention of tuberculosis in young people for a 4-year period after
vaccination. As a result, the many local health authorities who had not previously
begun B, C.G. vaccination have been encouraged to initiate vaccination
schemes. The results published in 1956, however, cover a relatively short period
on which to assess the value of a preventive measure for a disease such as tuberculosis,,
because the manifestations of this disease are often slow to appear.,
It is hoped,, therefore, to keep the young people under observation for a further
period, and to continue the close co-operation in the investigation between the
local health authorities and the Medical Research Co'uncil.
Investigation of New Tuberculosis in the Adolescent
In the Annual Report for 1953 it was reported that a scheme for the investigation
of the high incidence of tuberculosis among young adults was begun.
The plan was to invite children leaving school to take part in a scheme when
they would be X-rayed at once and each year sent for and another X-ray carried
out.
These annual reviews are to be continued for 10 years from the time of the
beginning of the experiment and during 1957, 266 altogether, 117 boys and 149
girls, attended for an X-ray under this scheme, i. e. 26% of the boys, and 17%
of the girls.
This is the fourth year of the scheme and it appears that the numbers are
dropping heavily, A proportion of the boys are in the Forces and no doubt a
number have removed from the district, but it is rather disappointing that the
response should have fallen so much.
One positive female case has now been found amongst these adolescents, the
first since the survey started.
B, C. G. Vaccination
As a result of the findings from the tuberculosis vaccinations clinical
trial that a degree of protection could be afforded by the vaccination of school
children with B. C. G. a scheme was inaugurated in the County of Middlesex for
the tuberculin testing and, if necessary, vaccination of school children at the
age of 13, During 1957, 1,406 children were invited to take part in the scheme,
981 consents were received. These chilidren were tuberculin tested, and those
found to be positive, indicating a previous infection with tuberculosis of a
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