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These home visits, which have been carried out in addition to the normal
duties of the nurses, have been very successful; much credit is due to
nurses concerned for the able and conscientious way in which this work has been
done. A further feature of the follow-up has been the provision made for the
regular X-raying of the participants. A mass radiography unit from the Medical
Research Council has visited the areas at regular intervals and participants
have been invited to attend for X-ray in the evening.
By 1956 the findings showed that B.C.G. vaccine confers a substantial measure
of protection against tuberculosis and the first report of the investigation
was published in 1956. As a result Local Health Authorities in England and Wales
have been encouraged to offer vaccination to thirteen year old children and it
is probable that this measure will effect a considerable reduction in the frequency
of tuberculosis in young people in future.
During 1958 one visit was paid to Brentford clinic by the mass radiography
unit. 125 young people from Brentford and Chiswick were invited to attend and
of these 73 attended and had an X-ray.
Although the investigation has shown the vaccine to be effective it is
desirable to know whether protection only persists for a few years after vaccination
or whether such induced resistance lasts for a considerable period. The
investigation is therefore being continued for the present.
Investigation of New Tuberculosis in the Adolescent
On this subject there is nothing to add to the 1957 report. During 1958
no further reviews of volunteers under this scheme, started in 1953 for the investigation
of the high incidence of tuberculosis among young adults, were
carried out.
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 1958, 421 children were invited to take part in the scheme,
271 consents were received. These children were tuberculin tested, and those
found to be positive, indicating a previous infection with tuberculosis of a
minor or major degree at some period in their lives, were referred to the Chest
Clinic for thorough investigation. 54 positives were so referred. B.C.G. vaccination
was carried out on 188 children. In addition 11 contacts of cases of
tuberculosis were referred to the Chest Clinic.
HOUSING CONDITIONS OF CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS
NOTIFIED DURING 1958
The housing conditions of 59 of the 76 cases of tuberculosis were found
to be as follows:-
55 patients lived in sufficiently satisfactory housing accommodation, 24
in flats, 16 in houses, 15 in lodgings or furnished rooms.
Three patients came from damp or unfit houses and in 1 case there was statutory
overcrowding. This overcrowding was abated during the year by the removal
of the family out of the district.
The housing particulars of 17 cases were not obtainable either because of
removal of patients to other districts or because of resistance of patients to
home visiting.
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