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The rise in the incidence of pneumonia during 1936 is almost
certainly attributable to the initial phase of the influenzal epidemic
which was beginning to make its presence felt during the latter
weeks of the year. In this connection, it is interesting to note that
no fewer than eight of the patients affected were 65 years or over,
six of them being over the age of 70. Pneumonia is essentially a
disease of the two extremes of life, broncho-pneumonia being much
more common in infancy, and lobar pneumonia in middle and
particularly late life. Both types of pneumonia require the most
careful attention, a fact which will be obvious when it is realised
that approximately 17 per cent. of the total number of cases of
infectious diseases notified during the year were attributable to
this disease. As hitherto, a considerable proportion of the cases
notified were removed to the North Middlesex County and other
hospitals.
Tuberculosis.— Forty-seven cases of pulmonary and eleven
cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were notified during the year
under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1912, the
corresponding figures for 1935 being, pulmonary cases, 42 : nonpulmonary
cases, 7. In addition to these notified cases, 19 patients
were entered in the register (15 pulmonary, 4 non-pulmonary),
these cases being new residents in the district, previously notified
elsewhere.
Thirty-seven deaths occurred, 33 from pulmonary and 4 from
non-pulmonary tuberculosis. Seven of these cases had not previously
been notified, a ratio of 18.9 per cent. as against 11.1 per
cent. in 1935.
As will be seen, the notifications of tuberculosis increased
during 1936, while the deaths also showed a considerable rise.
The poignant tragedy of tuberculosis is exemplified when the age
groups of those cases notified are studied. For 1936, the table is as
follows :—
1 to 5 years 1
5 to 15 years 4
15 to 20 years 7
20 to 35 ,, 26
35 to 45 ,, 10
45 years and over 10
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