[Report 1936] / Medical Officer of Health, Fife County Council.

  • Fife (Scotland). County Council.
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1936] / Medical Officer of Health, Fife County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    It is therefore clear that pulmonary tuberculosis is still a dangeroi disease, always to be taken seriously, and not to be made light of < neglected in any circumstances. It reaps its harvest when life shou] be at its best and healthiest. Cancer takes its toll mainly of those wl are ripe and beginning to wither. The early detection of this infection is therefore a highly importai matter. Even although its symptoms, if observed, may be common i the early stages of other infections, it may with certainty be disti guished from them all by the tuberculin test. There are various methods of employing this test, but the mo sensitive one is that of Mantoux. This is an endodermic injection tuberculin. A finely calibrated springe with a special needle is use If the edge of the needle is perfect, the injection can easily be ma< just under the cuticle. This seldom alarms even a highly sensiti child, and the result is the same, for rapid absorption into the deep layer of the skin takes^place. Hitherto the practice of tuberculin testing in Fife has been coffin* to contacts of known or suspected cases of tuberculosis, or to^as referred by Area Medical Officers or private practitioners. If funds were available to extend it to all school children regardle of cost, it might be possible to visualise in ten years hence, a County Fife second only to Switzerland as a haven for the tuberculous peoj of other places, simply because its own cases had become so rare. The co-operation of all men and women of good will, especial those who are the parents of young children, would have to be enlist for this effort, for it could never be made compulsory. The way > being opened up now for a voluntary effort. Most parents in infected homes, readily give their consent to t? tuberculin testing of their children. Many can now be entrusted wi the performance of tuberculin inunctions at home. It is not well known to the public that immunity to tuberculosis ct be established only in those who have been actually infected, and > have incurred the risk of illness supervening, an event which is i; uncommon. This is a merciful compensation for running a risk whit is almost unavoidable. Immunity may be acquired by sheer strength on the part of I1 child in building up natural resistance, without any special help fm outside. Good homes, good food and careful supervision will t:3 weaker children over the critical period, and tuberculin treatment v 1 hasten the establishment of immunity in all but the very weakest. So that while it is distressing to discover that one’s child has b( 1 infected, it is reassuring to know that he may be made more resisht than a stronger one, who has never been exposed.