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The number of new cases notified was 258 compared with 208 in 1949
and an average of 100 during the previous four years. This does not
necessarily mean that the actual number of new cases is increasing. The
increase might be due to a better discovery of new cases or to an alteration
in the standard of notification. The diagnosis of tuberculosis is a clinical
diagnosis, it is assisted by X-ray examination, bacteriological examination
of the sputum and various other tests, and cases may be roughly classified
as possible, probable or certain. The stage at which a case should be
notified depends largely on the physician who must take into account the
fact that a certain stigma rests on, and certain disabilities in regard to work,
attach to persons labelled as tuberculous; and also that persons so labelled
received some financial advantages and some of them are more ready to
accept and continue a course of treatment.
The better discovery of persons suffering from tuberculosis is in part due
to the better facilities provided at clinics, the operation of mass radiography
units, the publication of the success of the newer treatments (as
something new is frequently considered to be better than something old)
and an energetic programme of contact examination. All these factors
have been in operation in this Borough.
Immunisation with B.C.G. has been introduced into this country so
recently that it cannot yet have had any appreciable effect in reducing the
number of new cases.