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57
In 1924, the number of deaths from tubercular diseases (all
forms) was 190.
Of the 199 deaths registered from Tuberculosis during the year,
27 were not notified until within one month before death; in 18
cases the notifications were received after death, and in 19 cases no
notification was received.
Of the 19 cases of which no primary notification was received
14 were patients who died in hospitals, infirmaries or nursing homes,
2 in mental hospitals, and two elsewhere, while one death was
recorded by the coroner as due to tuberculosis after enquiry.
Of the 18 cases notified after death 2 (1 pulmonary, 1 nonpulmonary)
were notified by private doctors, 9 (4 pulmonary, 5
non-pulmonary) by Poor Law Institutions, 6 (3 pulmonary, 3 nonpulmonary)
by hospitals or asylums, and one was notified after
Inquest.
In all cases where notification was not received in accordance
with the requirements of Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1912, the explanations received were considered satisfactory,
and in no case was it found necessary to take legal proceedings.
A circular letter, dated 22nd December, 1924, was issued by
the Ministry of Health, drawing the attention of Local Authorities,
inter alia, to the importance of securing strict compliance with the
requirement of the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations as to
notification. On the instructions of the Health Committee the
Medical Officer of Health addressed a circular letter to all medical
practitioners practising in the Borough reminding them of the
obligation of notification imposed on them by the Regulations and
of the facilities for diagnosis, etc., provided under the Council's
Tuberculosis scheme through the Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The number of notifications received after the death of the
patient in 1925 was 18 as compared with 30 in 1924. It would
appear, therefore, from these figures that the action of the Council
has been followed by a more careful observation of the requirements
of notification.
The Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1924, require
the Medical Officer of Health to furnish quarterly to the County
Medical Officer of Health returns of cases (a) on the register at the
beginning of the quarter, (b) notified during the quarter, (c) removed
during the quarter, (d) remaining on the register at the end of the
quarter; the figures being separated for males and females and for
pulmonary and non-pulmonary cases.
The Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925, wen.
issued in July, and prohibited any person suffering from Tuberculosis
of the respiratory tract from entering upon any employment
or occupation in connection with a dairy, involving the
milking of cows, the treatment of milk or the handling of milk
vessels.