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13
It will be seen that up to and including 1954 the notification
rate wasmore or less stationary whereas the death rate steadily
fell. In 1956 the notification rate was just over one-half of
that for 1S47. whereas the death rate had fallen to less than
one-sixth.
The falling death rate undoubtedly reflects the success of
modern methods of treating the disease. The maintenance of the
level of notifications in the earlier years may mean one of two
things, either the incidence of the disease has remained oonstant
or the disease has decreased in incidence but notification has
been more complete. Over the past two years, however, there have
been signs of a decline in notifications and whilst it would be
unwise to base conclusions on two years' figures, it may foreshadow
the elimination of the disease as a major cause of death and
invalidism.