Tuberculosis case-finding survey in penal and correctional institutions in Ohio.

“There is, in fact, hardly an argument that can be advanced for the stern suppression of crime by penal methods that does not apply equally to the suppression of disease. . . . “ Medical service in the penal and correctional institutions throughout the United States has been reported at various times to be below the level of medical care for the general population. In 1939 McCartney2 noted that in 47 per cent of the 251 Federal and state prisons the medical service was of less than average quality and he predicted that in most cases the inmates would be released from prison in a worse physical state than when they were committed. In 1929 a survey3 of the Federal and state prisons was made in order to determine as closely as possible the extent of the tuberculosis problem. The findings revealed that approximately 1 per cent of the inmates were known to be infected with tuberculosis and intimated that a more complete examination would reveal a larger number of cases. It was also noted that care and treatment for tuberculous patients was extremely variable and was mainly valuable in providing isolation for the infected inmates. Following a mass x-ray survey of the mental schools and hospitals in Ohio during the first four months of 1946 it was felt desirable that the survey be extended to include penal and correctional Institutions. The inmates and employees of two penal and two correctional institutions for males in the state of Ohio are the subject of this survey. Two other institutions for female inmates, one penal and one correctional were not included in the study because of inadequate power source for operation of roentgenographic equipment. Photofluorographic equipment utilizing 35 mm. unperforated film was the case-finding apparatus employed. Suspected tubercubus and nontubercubous lesions noted on small films were reexamined on 14” x 17” celluloid roentgenograms. The survey was conducted primarily as a screening project and recommendations were made for diagnostic follow-up in those cases where it was indicated.