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III.- TUBERCULOSIS.
In submitting the report on the Tuberculosis Scheme for the
year, I have to point out that this has been written by Dr. C. H. C.
Toussaint, who, previously Assistant Tuberculosis Officer, was
appointed to succeed me on October 1st, 1928. Coming, as he
has done, more or less freshly to problems of administration in
connection with tuberculosis, he has been greatly impressed by
the need of reform in two particular directions. He is of opinion
that there is still far too much delay in the diagnosis and notification
of tuberculosis, and he is also impressed by the tremendous
need for improved housing conditions. I agree most heartily
with him in both these expressions of opinion, and have dealt at
some length elsewhere with the appalling housing conditions
which distress him. We are very anxious to preserve amicable
working relations with all the general practitioners of the Borough,
and to provide a service in connection with tuberculosis which
shall be of real use to them. They on their.part are anxious to
do their best for their patients, and in the case of tuberculosis,
the best can only be done, when the patient is seen in the very
earliest stages of the disease. This is pre-eminently a matter for
the family doctor. It is he to whom the patient first goes, and
it is to him that we are bound to look for improvement in the
matter of early notification. A further valuable work which he
could perform would be to examine contacts himself, or if this be
impossible, persuade them to attend for examination at the
Dispensary.
I have pleasure in submitting Dr. Toussaint's report:-
"The number of deaths from all forms of tuberculous disease
in 1928 was 164, and in Table I. an analysis of these deaths is
shown according to the ages at death.