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TUBERCULOSIS.
Primary notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis numbered
377 and non-pulmonary 23 as compared with 274 and 26
respectively in 1951.
I am indebted to Dr. K. Marsh, Chest Physician, for the
following information relating to tuberculosis and the conduct of
the Camberwell Chest Clinic.
During the past year a number of changes have been made
in the running of the Chest Clinic. At the same time, there have
been certain changes in the population of the Borough which
have influenced the work carried out at the Clinic.
As a result of rehousing by both the Borough and the
London County Council there has been an increase in the population.
This increase is likely to go on for some time until the
various housing projects in the Borough have been completed.
It should be noted that both the Borough Council and the
London County Council give priority to the rehousing of patients
with tuberculosis not only within the Borough but also from
outside; this will mean that the number of notified cases on
the register will show an increase. Furthermore, as a result
of the gradual increase in the population, it is to be expected
that a certain number of new cases will be discovered. The
facilities provided for free medical examination and treatment
under the National Health Service Act encourage people in
poor health to consult their doctors more promptly than they
might have done a few years ago, and this has no doubt resulted
in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis being discovered at an early
stage of the disease.
A new service for general practitioners has recently been
started at the Chest Clinic. The doctors can refer a patient for
a chest X-ray and they receive a report on this X-ray. If it is
considered that there is any abnormality, or if the doctor
especially makes the request, the patient is seen at the Clinic.
In this way a number of patients are referred for routine chest
X-rays who would not normally be seen. This service is an