Tuberculosis and alcoholism.

Of 227 chronic alcoholics studied in jail, 20 (9%) had a previous diagnosis of tuberculosis. The chest radiographs of 202 of these inmates were compared with those of 187 inmates serving sentences for other offences. Significant findings compatible with tuberculosis were noted in 34 of 202 (16.8%) chronic alcoholics and in two of 187 (1.1%) other offenders. Tuberculin testing of 98 inmates revealed that 80.6% of the chronic alcoholics and 33.3% of the other offenders had positive skin tests. It is suggested that the mixing in jail of a potentially highly infectious group with susceptible individuals is undesirable and that other methods of management should be considered.