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89
Patch Testing
During the autumn term of 19 55 it was decided to start
routine patch testing of school entrants, and 177 children in
Hornsey were tested. Of these only six were patch positive.
The children and their families were invited to the Chest Clinic
for X-rays. The father of one of these children was found to be
a case of infectious tuberculosis and is now in hospital regaining
his health and no longer a source of danger to the community. It
is intended to patch test the remainder of the Hornsey school
entrants and the Tottenham children during the rest of the school
year.
B. C. G. Vaccination
Now that so few school children come in contact with tuberculosis
while they have less chance of succumbing to the infection
they also have less chance of building up any resistance.
It was decided to begin vaccination against tuberculosis by means
of the avirulent B.C.G. vaccine, offering it to all children in
the 13-14 year age group whose parents gave consent. A very
successful start was made as can be seen by reference to the
accompanying tabl e„
Parents approached
1,373
Parents accepting
956
(69. 6%)
Mantoux tested and read
8 26
Mantoux positive
71
(8.6% of those tested)
Mantoux negative
755
(91.4% of those tested)
Total vaccinated
752
(54,8% of children in
group approached)
70% of parents consented to the procedure. Some children
had to be excluded because of contact with a tuberculous patient
or for intercurrent infection. Of the 8 26 who were tested
(Mantoux 1/ 1000) 8.6% were tuberculin positive and 91.4% tuberculin
negative. The latter were vaccinated and the former
referred to the Chest Clinic for investigation; in no case was a
child found to have tuberculosis.
The vaccination reactions were entirely uncomplicated - no
case of excessive ulceration or abscess formation being seen.
The pock does not seem to cause any interference with school work
or Play.