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64
Of the 9 cases where the information was derived from the Death
Returns, 4 had been treated in hospitals, 4 by general practitioners,
and in the remaining case the information came from the coroner.
Information from Death Returns 9
Died within One Month of Notification 11
Died within Three Months of Notification 10
Died within Six Months of Notification 11
Died with Over Six Months of Notification 63
104
Requests are constantly received from Hospitals desiring
Sanatorium Treatment for patients evidently suffering from Tuberculosis,
but who have not been notified, and what is more difficult
to understand is that the County Council have accepted such
patients directly before notification has been carried out. This
matter has been the subject of much correspondence between the
various parties concerned. Our policy now is to take no steps to
deal with such applications until the regulations have been complied
with.
Obesrvation cases, i.e. cases where the diagnosis is doubtful,
are on a different footing and are promptly dealt with.
Revised Diagnosis.—The 15 cases in which the diagnosis
of Tuberculosis was not confirmed comprised: 2 pneumonia, 4
chronic bronchitis, 1 cancer, 2 debility, 1 goitre. These 10 patients
were notified as suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. The 5
cases notified as non-pulmonary proved: 1 malignant disease of
hip, 2 simple glandular swellings, 1 enteritis, 1 congenital defect.
In this connection it is very gratifying to note that the number
of cases sent by general practitioners to the Dispensary (before
notification) for an opinion as to diagnosis is increasing year by
year.
Deaths.—During the year 117 persons died from Tuberculosis
(all forms) giving a death rate of 1.13 per 1000 population, 104 were
due to the Pulmonary Form equal to a rate of 1.00 per 1,000 of the
population, which is the lowest ever recorded in the Borough.
Several of these pulmonary deaths were notified from Mental
Hospitals and concerned patients who had not resided in the Borough
for many years.
Notifications and deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis, with
the Incidence and Death Rates for the previous five years, are
recorded below :—