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16
TUBERCULOSIS.
The visits of the Tuberculosis Officers to the homes of the patients (calculated on
all patients seen) averaged 2*3 per patient in 1917 and 3'0 in 1918. The Nurses' visits—
calculated on the same basis—averaged 18*5 in 1917 and 24T in 1918.
The sputum tests, having regard to the numbers of patients, were comparatively few,
only 113 in 1917 and 101 in 1918, St. Mary's showing a larger ratio than Talbot Road.
Contacts.—The examination of the members of the families of tuberculous patients is
deemed to be a factor of high import in the work of a dispensary. From enquiries addressed
to the Tuberculosis Officers the following information has been compiled: —
Total number of contacts to be examined ... ... 2,545
„ „ „ examined ... ... 1,453* +
Percentage examined ... ... 57'4 +
The patients at Talbot Road furnished 1,848 contacts, of whom 1,218 were examined,
i.e., 65*9 per cent., those at St. Marv's, 697 contacts, of whom 235 (plus an unknown number
in 191(1) were examined.

Undoubtedly the reductions recorded were largely due to the war.
Suspects.—During the five years 744 "suspect" cases were reported from the Dispensaries.
Of those cases 64 were subsequently certified as tuberculous and in 320 other cases
tuberculosis was definitely excluded, thus accounting for 384 (51*6) per cent.) of the
" suspects," the proportion up to the end of 1918 certified as tuberculous being 8"6 per cent.
Many of the patients are still under observation, while others have been lost sight of for one
reason or another.
•
Deaths.—The corrected number of deaths from all forms of tuberculosis during 1914-18
was 1,035, exactly 100 in excess of the total (935) for 1909-13, very nearly a 10 per cent,
increase. The annual average numbers of deaths were—1909-13, 187 ; 1914-18, 207.
In these reports deaths from tuberculosis are sub-divided into deaths from—
Pulmonary Tuberculosis (phthisis; ... 826 deaths 1914-18 ; 724, 1909-13
Tuberculosis of Meninges .. ... ... 88 „ „ 81 „
Other forms of Tuberculosis 121 „ „ 130 „
The annual average numbers of deaths and the Index Numbers for 1914-18 (averages for
1909-13 = 100) are shown below.

Tables V. a—e, Appendix, contain full information of the sex-age distribution of the
corrected total number of deaths for each of the five years 1914-18. The following Index
Numbers for 1914-18 show the variations during that period in comparison with the
preceding five years :—
Deaths : Index Numbers 1914-18.
(Total in each Category for 1909-13 = 100.)
Ages at Death.
Category
0-
5-
15-
45-
65-
All ages.
M.
F.
M.
F.
M.
F.
M.
F.
M.
F.
M.
F.
120
119
79
Pulmonary
140
240
260
317
102
119
128
97
59
131
110
Meningeal
107
96
78
243
200
71
45
114
)*
47
100
Other
94
88
144
58
127
67
104
* Three deaths 1914-18, none 1909-13.
The following tabular statement showing the differences in sex-age incidences of
attacks (notified cases) and deaths is of interest. The figures represent the numbers at
each age in 100 cases (or deaths) of each sex.
* The record for 1916 at St. Mary's is not available.