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125
increase yearly. I have to thank the Radiologist at the Hampstead
General Hospital for the uniformity good films he supplies.
Potential contacts during the year numbered 110. 37 of these
have been examined, i.e., 34 per cent.
A total of 71 contact cases were examined altogether.
For the second year in succession an exceptionally fine summer
and freedom from a severe influenza epidemic during the winter has
acted in the main beneficially on the patients as far as general respiratory
disease is concerned. Hot summers, however, are trying to the
active tubercular patient and an effect of this is seen in the considerable
increase in the death rate for the past year; this increase amounts
to SO per cent, on the preceding year and is the highest figure for nine
years. During the course of the year several cases were seen who had
activated quiescent disease by indiscriminate sun bathing.
The primary notifications during the year showed an increase
each month for the first six months; during the last six months the
notifications were less for each month.
A great improvement has been manifest in the small number of
Dispensary cases who have died in their homes. In the year under
review this amounted to only five and in each case the home conditions
were such that there was no objection to the return of the patients to
their own homes to die.
As New End Hospital is unable to accommodate tuberculosis
cases for any length of time the majority of our cases are transferred
to Highgate Hospital. At this Hospital the wards are all large and
airy with cross ventilation, and leave little to be desired from an
institutional point of view. Much has been done since the London
County Council took over the general hospitals to make the wards
bright and cheerful and to improve the equipment.
As I visit this Hospital weekly I am able to keep an eye on any
of the Hampstead cases who may be transferred there. It is a pity
that the Hospital is rather difficult of access to Hampstead, as it is
evident that many of the patients admitted there are in the last stages
of the disease, being mostly those who are too advanced for sanatorium
treatment.
One of our cases continues to work at one of Dr. Jane Walker's
Sanatoria and is keeping well.