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Tuberculosis—New Cases and Mortality.—Table 8 contains information with regard to age and sex
distribution of, and mortality from, all forms of tuberculosis.

‡ Including all primary notifications and also any other new cases of tuberculosis which
came to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health during the year.
Notifications.—Table 6 (p. 18) gives information regarding notifications of pulmonary and nonpulmonary
tuberculosis received during the year. The total number of cases of tuberculosis
remaining at the 31st December, 1948, on the register was 774, 64 more than at the end of the
previous year.
*Dispensary.—The work of the Dispensary continued to increase generally. Statistics: new patients,
365 (including 76 contacts), old cases, 457; attendances, 3,485; tuberculosis officer called into
consultation on 289 occasions; hospital visits by tuberculosis officer, 26; home visits by tuberculosis
visitor, 266; 2,064 examinations (films, 1,017; screening only, 1,047) were made by means of the
Council's X-ray plant. Sixty-three patients received artificial pneumothorax treatment on the
premises and 682 refills were given. Sputum examinations carried out numbered 409.
Expenditure on milk supplied to 105 tuberculous persons for varying periods amounted to
£688 6s. 5d.
In addition to the Council's Tuberculosis Dispensary, forming part of the Town Hall Extension,
there is situated in the Borough the Margaret Street Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, No. 26,
Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, W.1, which is maintained by a voluntary organisation and
possesses facilities for the treatment of tuberculosis.
*Institutional Treatment.—Admissions to hospital or sanatorium numbered 54.
*Dental Treatment.—The arrangement for tuberculous persons to be seen by the Borough Council's
Dental Surgeon by special appointment was continued, and six patients received treatment.
*Maintenance Allowances.—The scheme of maintenance allowances, etc., for tuberculous persons
and their dependants, prescribed by Ministry of Health Memorandum 266/T, continued to operate
smoothly and to attain its object of encouraging patients to secure early treatment and to stay in
sanatorium until maximum benefit has been obtained. Twenty-two patients applied for assistance
and in all cases financial aid, totalling £1,817 1s. 11d., was afforded.
*Government Rehabilitation Scheme.—Sixteen patients were referred under this scheme to the Local
Officer of the Ministry of Labour and National Service.
*Care Committee.—The Committee held 6 meetings and dealt with 96 cases.
Disinfection.—During the year, 1,198 rooms and 18,580 articles (including 342 books) were disinfected
after infectious diseases generally. In addition, 3,767 dressing drums from a local hospital were
sterilised.
Bacteriological Examinations.—Table 9 shows the number of specimens examined for the purposes
of diagnosis and indicates also the organisms in relation to which the examinations were made.
* The information contained in these paragraphs relates to the period 1st January, 1948, to 4th July, 1948.