View report page

The figure of 40 notifications includes 14 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 26 new cases of tuberculosis
occurring within the Borough compared with the figure of 33 new cases
in 1963.
Facilities for diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis as well
as prevention and after care were provided by the Hounslow Chest Clinic, and home
visiting was carried out by Health Visitors attached to this Clinic. They were
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, 52 children from Brentford and Chiswick were given B.C.G. at the Chest
Clinic in 1964
A prominent part in the. treatment was 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 Manage
ment Committees of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in Gen
eral Hospitals and in Chest Hospitals, a Middlesex County Council Hostel was
available for chronic ambulant male tuberculous patients
Facilities for convalescence, rehabilitation and training were 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
was dealt with by the Welfare Department of the Hounslow Chest Clinic,
B.C.G Vaccination
As a result of the findings from the Tuberculosis Vaccinations Clinical
Trial, which took place from 1950 to 1960 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 neces
sary, vaccination of school children at the age of 13, During 1964, 617 children
were invited to take part in the scheme 458 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,
112 positives were so referred B, C, G. vaccination was carried out on 288
children 6 contacts of cases of tuberculosis were referred to the Chest Clinic.
All tests and vaccinations during 1964 under this scheme were carried out
by Middlesex County Council staff.
HOUSING CONDITIONS OF CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS
NOTIFIED DURING 1964
The housing conditions of 33 of the 40 cases of tuberculosis notified
during the year were found to be as follows
All patients lived in sufficiently satisfactory housing accommodation, 15
in flats, 9 in houses and 9 in lodgings or furnished rooms,
None of the patients were living in overcrowded conditions
27