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10
Hie facilities available in Tottenham for dealing with tuberculosis are
probably as good as anywhere in this country. The chest clinic which was
recently moved to a newly constructed block of buildings at St. Ann's General
Hospital, is provided with all modern equipment now considered essential for
the proper diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Miniature X-ray equipment
has been installed which enables the chest physician to undertake a wide
exanination of contacts and suspected cases without incurring the considerable
expense which would be associated with the taking of full-size plates.
B.C. G. inoculations are offered to susceptible contacts as a means of
controlling the spread of the disease amongst the households of known cases.
In addition, the School Health Service is making available in 1955 facilities
for all suitable school children at age of 13 to receive B.C.G. inoculations.
For control to be really effective it is essential that every case
should be notified. To assist in the discovery of "missed" cases the Mass
Radiography Unit makes periodic visits to the Borough when large groups of the
population are X-rayed. One drawback of this method, however, is that it is
mainly the same groups which submit themselves for examination whilst other
sections are never X-rayed.
Another and perhaps more profitable method of discovering cases which is
adopted in Tottenham in infant welfare centres is to test young children and
to follow-up the home contacts of those who show a positive reaction. In
this way many cases have been traced and brought under treatment at the
earliest possible moment. 1
A major problem at the present time is the incidence of tuberculosis in
elderly persons. These are often chronic infectious cases who are not
suitable for the radical treatments used in younger persons. Often these
older persons do not realise the infectious nature of thenr condition which
is so dangerous to others in the home, and it is difficult for them to
understand the need for the utmost personal hygiene. In cases like this
where married children with young families share the home, rehousing should
receive a high priority.
Tottenham Chest Clinic
I am indebted to Dr. T.A.C. Mc Quiston for the following report on the
work of the Tottenham Chest Clinic during the past year.
"The outstanding event of the year was the transfer of the Chest Clinic
from its old premises in Somerset Road to the new Clinic in the grounds of
St. Ann's General Hospital. This took place in July and went very smoothly,
the continuity of the Clinic work being disrupted for only a day or two. The
new Clinic has more accommodation and is much brighter, airier and more cheerful
both for staff and patients. Since the Clinic is now in the hospital