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110
The remarkable fall in the death rate during the past five years
will be noted. This has been effected firstly by earlier diagnosis
due to the more widespread use of X-rays, and secondly, by the
great advances in treatment referred to earlier. Early diagnosis
means that treatment takes less time and the results are much more
favourable. In this respect it is of interest to study the sources
of the 146 cases newly diagnosed during the year.
Mass Radiography Units 29 56 cases.
Routine contact examination 27 including 1 O.T.
Referred by General
Practitioners 40 90 cases.
Referred by other Hospitals 50 including 21 O.T.
It will be seen that 56 cases (38.4%) were detected by case
finding methods. These patients were almost without exception
free from symptoms and outwardly in good health. The disease
was usually in the early stages and suitable for short term treatment
without delay, often before the infectious stage had been reached.
The second group of cases (90) had been referred to hospital
after consulting a general practitioner on account of symptoms.
These cases tended to have more extensive disease than the first
group and also contained some very advanced cases.
Deaths. There were 40 deaths—the lowest ever to be recorded
in Greenwich.

It will be seen that the greatest number of deaths now occurs in
men over the age of 50 years; 12 of the deaths were in patients
over the age of 65 years, the oldest being 83 years.