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deaths from tuberculosis is exceeded only by those for cancer, bronchitis and cardiovascular
disorders.
During the year 164 cases of tuberculosis (all forms) came to notice after death,
not having been notified during life—this amounts to 25 per cent. of all tuberculous
deaths.
Morbidity
About a century ago nearly one-fifth of all deaths in Londoners was due to tuberculosis;
in 1950 the proportion had fallen to a thirtieth and in 1954 to a fiftieth.
In relation to morbidity, the picture, while encouraging, is not quite so satisfactory
(see Tables T3 and T4 on pages 32 and 33). In 1950 there were 39,780 cases of tuberculosis
in London, representing 11.7 per 1,000 of the population. In 1954 the chest clinic
registers recorded 37,624 cases, giving a prevalence rate of 11.3 per 1,000 inhabitants.
In 1950 the number of new cases (pulmonary and in other organs) notified, was 5,718;
in 1954 new notifications were reduced to 4,641 of which 4,231 were pulmonary. In
spite of improving facilities for diagnosis there has been a drop of 10 per cent. in the
number of new lung cases notified during 1954 as compared with 1953. The occupational
grouping of newly-notified cases is set out on Table T6 (page 34).
Improved treatment in recent years has not only reduced mortality but has also
considerably reduced the infectivity of the registered cases attending clinics. This is
TUBERCULOSIS
MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY 1934-1954
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