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137
The Clinic Register of Cases.
The number of cases of tuberculosis under the supervision of
the Clinic at the end of the year was 942. This is equivalent to
8.93 persons per 1,000 of the population.
The Clinic Register has been revised yearly during the past
six years, so as to make it a correct record of the cases in the
Borough who are under the supervision of the Clinic. This has
necessitated a lot of work in following up old cases, some of whom
had not been seen for a number of years. By this yearly revision
the Register is kept a "live" one.
By these means the number of persons on this register has
been reduced from 1,965 on 1st January, 1928, to 963 on 31st
December, 1933.
During the year 141 Clinic cases died; of this number, 33 or
23.4% were seen for the first time in 1933.
Examination of Sputum.
This is done by the Council's Bacteriologist in the Laboratory
at the Croydon General Hospital.
For each 100 new cases and contacts examined at the
Clinic 94 specimens of sputum were examined.
The 769 examinations include a number from the Croydon
General Hospital, in addition to those sent in by General
Practitioners.
1933, however, shows a very slight increase in the number of
examinations of sputa made for General Practitioners. It is difficult
to understand why this simple test is not always made in any
doubtful chest condition.