View report page

It would be quite misleading to attempt to draw any very
definite conclusions from the tables set out above. It might nonethe-less
be noted that the number of housewives notified each
year as suffering from tuberculosis is relatively high. It might also
be noted that the incidence of tuberculosis among workers in the
food trades is low, while this disease does not particularly tend
to single out manual or factory workers. So far as Southgate
is concerned, of course, this latter incidence may be specifically
influenced by the fact that the proportion of such workers among
the local population is not as high as in many other areas. It is
pleasing to note that the number of new cases of tuberculosis
reported among children has fallen each year since 1948. I would
again emphasize that, while these figures may be interesting, the
number of cases and the period covered are not such as to warrant
significant conclusions being drawn.
There is little to add to the comments made in the Annual
Report for 1949. There is no evidence of any specific local factors
which have a direct bearing on the incidence of tuberculosis within
the Borough. As I mentioned last year, however, we must still
remember that malnutrition and overcrowding must always be
considered in relation to tuberculosis. This is a field in which
environmental hygiene plays a most important part. Tuberculosis
has been well described as a social disease. Each case can be said
to represent a definite flaw in our defensive system. Until proper
emphasis is laid on prevention rather than cure, too much energy
will still continue to be expended in what are, at best, palliative
measures. No one would deny that the treatment facilities available
to patients suffering from tuberculosis must be of the highest
order, and that they must be adequate to meet all reasonable
36