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45
Respiratory Tuberculosis
There was a slight increase in the number of new adult male
cases discovered during the year but this was more than offset
by the decl in in the new women patients and the total was somewhat
less than last year. Of the 118 new cases, 69 were male and this
higher incidence of Tuberculosis in men reflects the position
generally for the country as a whole, Fortunately 75%of the cases
diagnosed were at an early minimal stage of infection, likely to
respond well to treatment.
Table 1 shows the genera] fall in Clinic register figures
with the exception of the total of male cases where an increase
is accounted for by the inward transfer of 32 men to the London
County Council Hostel for chronic Tuberculosis cases opened at
Knight s Hill in June. However, in spite of this, the total of
cases transferred out of the Borough exceeded those transferred
in and, as will be seen from Table 2, the total on the register
continues to fall

Treatment
Out Patient management and treatment of Tuberculosis cases
is now established and, in co-operation with General Practitioners,
400 patients were given chemo-therapy under Chest Clinic super
vision and guidance during the year. Such treatment is now an
important function of the Chest Clinic service, as in individual
cases chemo-therapy may be prolonged for two or more years and
is continued on occasion after the patient has resumed work.