View report page

61
REPORT OF THE TUBERCULOSIS OFFICER FOR 1937.
The primary notifications of tuberculosis for 1937 numbered
413, of which 353 were of pulmonary tuberculosis and 60 of other
forms of tuberculosis. During the year, 134 persons died from
pulmonary tuberculosis and 13 died from other forms of the disease.
The death-rate from pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.59 per 1,000
inhabitants, as compared with 0.62 for 1936.
Ca9.es on Register.—A thorough revision of the register was
carried out, with the result that the cases on the Town Hall Register
number 1,298 (pulmonary 1,023, other forms, 275), while those on
the Dispensary Register number 1,054 (pulmonary 875, other forms
179). Taking the population of Lewisham as 224,000, it appears
that one person out of every 219 suffers from pulmonary tuberculosis.
Attendances of Patients.—During the year 864 new patients
attended the Dispensary and the total attendances numbered 3,439.
Of the new cases, 255 were referred to the Dispensary by their
medical attendants, 197 were referred from hospitals or from other
areas, 315 were contacts of tuberculous patients and 78 applied on
their own initiative. A summary of first attendances is shown in
Table C.
Home Visiting.—The three Health Visitors paid 5,156 visits to
the homes of patients. Every newly notified case is visited as a
routine and subsequent visits are paid as often as is necessary to
give assistance in home difficulties.
The Tuberculosis Officer visited 295 patients in their homes
and also saw 12 patients there in consultation with their medical
attendants.
Reports.—Written reports to the number of 1,045 were sent
out from the Dispensary.
Residential Treatment.—The London County Council admitted
192 insured and 116 uninsured patients to residential institutions,
while 43 patients were referred direct to the Lewisham Hospital
by the Tuberculosis Officer, these being patients in urgent need of
institutional treatment and living under unsuitable home conditions.