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77
REPORT OF THE TUBERCULOSIS MEDICAL
OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 1926.
The Current List of Notifications of Tuberculosis in Camberwell
as at December 31st, 1926.
At December 31st, 1926, there were 2,713 cases of tuberculosis
on the current list in Camberwell. There were 1,926 cases of
pulmonary tuberculosis—l,o92 males and 834 females —and 787
cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis—4l4 males and 373 females.

On Table I the number of notifications on the Tuberculosis
Register in Camberwell at the end of the years 1925 and 1926
respectively are compared. It should be remembered that new
primary notifications and transfers of patients from other areas
add to the Register, while recoveries—as defined by the Ministry
of Health —deaths of enrolled patients from tuberculosis or other
causes of death, removals from the area and cases in which the
original diagnosis of tuberculosis has been altered, substract from
it. The importance of having a true and live register cannot be
over-emphasised. All who contribute names of patients to the
Register —whether the contributors be hospital consultants,
general practitioners, school medical officers or tuberculosis officers
—should feel that they share in the responsibility of keeping the
Register true. A name on the Register that should not be there
is a personal injustice. An altered address may be known to the
medical attendant and not to the Medical Officer of Health. In
such a case there is in essence a de-notification that may interfere
with public health measures. An omission to notify a case of
tuberculosis lessens the value of the Register as an index of the
magnitude of the local tuberculosis problem, handicaps the
appropriate authority in considering questions of staff. beds, etc.,
loosens the preventive scheme and deprives the patient of any
opportunity of participating in the benefits of the public scheme
of treatment.
Table II supplies an analysis under age periods, sex, and the
broad grouping of pulmonary and non-pulmonary forms.