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I an indebted to Dr. A. S. Hall, the County Tuberculosis Medical
Officer, for the following observations:-
"Despite many difficulties, and in a statistical sense,
the position as regards tuberculosis in Hendon in 1945 was
more satisfactory than in any previous year since Hendon has
attained its present level of population. Deaths still
remain our most trustworthy indication of the prevalence of
the disease and they numbered 57 in the year, giving a rate
of 39 per 100,000 compared with a rate of 6l in 1944, This
new level is very satisfactory end more in keeping with the
social conditions of the district. As tuberculosis comes
under control it is usually noted that the age at death rises
and this is confirmed in Hendon where 30 of the deaths were
over the age of 40 and 27 under. When the sexes are
differentiated we find that men fared worse than women for
37 of them died as opposed to 20 women. Under 40, there were
13 men and 14 women, whereas over 40, there were 24 men and 6
women. In fact, the middle-aged man is becoming the chief
problem in tuberculosis. There were no deaths in the age-group
10 - 20 and there was only one non-pulmonary death. Of the 57
deaths, 5 were only notified on death certificates and a further
6 were either notified a short while before death or were of
persons resident in mental hospitals. The remaining 1+6 were on
the Chest Clinic register for periods varying from 26 years to
one month. The average time on the register was 4,2 years.
Six deaths were of persons transferring into the district
already suffering from tuberculosis.
There was a total of 1035 notified persons at the end of
the year, giving a rate of 707.6 per 100,000, a high rate, but
an index rather of the persistence with which the disease is
sought out than of the gravity of the problem in the district.
Turning to the treatment of the living patients it must be
confessed that the situation is very serious for the wait before
in-patient treatment can be commenced has at no time been less
than 3 months, and has been steadily increasing. This wait is
a great test of the patients' morale and it has been remarkable
to observe how well they have borne it. The initial period of
rest with minor preliminary collapse measures have been undertaken
in the patients' homes in a large proportion of cases with consider-