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Investigation of New Tuberculosis in the Adolescent
On this subject there is nothing to add. During 1959, 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 1959, 251 children were invited to take part in the scheme,
218 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. 28 positives were so referred. B.C.G, vaccination
was carried out on 100 children. No contacts of cases of tuberculosis
were referred to the Chest Clinic.
All tests and vaccinations during 1959 under this scheme were carried out
by the Tuberculosis Unit of the Medical Research Council.
HOUSING CONDITIONS OF CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS
NOTIFIED DURING 1959
The housing conditions of 57 of the 73 cases of tuberculosis were found
to be as follows: -
56 patients lived in sufficiently satisfactory housing accommodation, 32
in flats, 12 in houses, 12 in lodgings or furnished rooms.
One patient lived in overcrowded housing conditions, a house let in rooms,
but the room overcrowding could be overcome by re-arrangement of the other occupants
of the dwelling.
The housing particulars of 15 cases were not obtainable either because of
removal of patients to other districts or because of resistance of patients to
home visiting.
Six new notifications came from homes already returning one or more cases
of tuberculosis.
38 cases were inward transfers from other districts and, therefore, had
not developed their illness while resident in Brentford and Chiswick.
The position regarding cases living in unsatisfactory or overcrowded conditions,
outstanding from previous years, is as follows: -
Year Cases No. where Conditions improved
1958 4 3
1954 1 -
1953 5 3
Mass X-ray
During 1959, the mobile Mass X-ray unit made one short visit to the Borough
to a small factory. 142 people were X-rayed there and no case of active tuberculosis
was found.
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