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Tuberculosis In Young Children.
The first table set out below shows the gradual, though fluctuating, tendency
towards the decrease of tuberculosis In young children. This has taken place despite
the absence of any discernible trend in the notifications of tuberculosis at older ages.
The second table, showing the numbers of B.C.G. vaccinations of "contacts" of tuberculosis,
may provide part of the reason. It will be seen that there has been a steady Increase
in the numbers of "contacts" vaccinated and that a large proportion of them were young
children, mostly under one year of age. This was the result of a consistent endeavour to
secure the protection of all babies born into known tuberculous households, within the
first few days of life. The earlier detection and increasingly efficient treatment of
adult tuberculosis may also have contributed to this effect by reducing the number of
infectious cases in the community even though the notifications remain about the same level.

x This figure Includes 14 nurses, who were vaccinated at the Chest Clinic
whilst employed at hospitals in the Borough.
Liaison with Children's Officer.
Close and friendly co-operation is maintained with the Children's Officer and many
problems relating to the care of deprived children are discussed by the staff of the two
departments.
Occasional meetings to consider problems related to children neglected or ill
treated in their own homes are convened, as necessary, by the Children's Officer. The
Medical Officer of Health has taken the chair at these meetings which have been well
attended by officers of the departments concerned, and by representatives of other official
and voluntary organisations.
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