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23
been purified to some extent by the scourge. Something of this
sort seems to have happened in the west area of this district.
It is to be understood that this statement is mainly conjecture
and is not based on very solid evidence.
Notifications.
Passing now to the conditions existing previous to death, viz.,
notifications received of the existence of disease from the local
practitioners, we find a somewhat depressing state of affairs, with
perhaps one gleam of hope.
The first point that naturally suggests itself is to what extent
does notification reflect the existence of infected individuals. The
errors must necessarily be of excess or defect. Errors of excess
can be measured, but those of defect can only be indirectly
arrived at, the former, as will be seen is large, but the latter is
enormous. So long as notification depends on discomfort and
probable loss of life, it must remain so.
In so far as an error exists, even as to the reported cause of
death, it is not surprising that difference of medical opinion shou'd
occur, as to the presence of recognisable disease during lift.
The following figures are taken from a large general hospital
and are based on post-mortem examination, a diagnosis of active
phthisis having been made during life.
The agreement or disagreement between the Clinical findings
and the post-mortem examination was as follows :—
Correct in 32 cases, or 59 per cent.
Error of commission, 16 cases, or 30 per cent.
Error of commission, 6 cases, or 11 per cent.