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TETANUS
1 case of tetanus was notified during the year. The patient whose infection derived
from an injury to his foot when he stepped on a rusty nail, made a good recovery.
TUBERCULOSIS
The number of new cases notified showed little change compared with the previous
year, 46 cases being reported compared with 42 notifications in 1971. I am once again
particularly indebted to the Consultant Chest Physician, Dr. E.W. Street, and his colleagues,
for their expert advice in connection with preventive measures when cases of this illness have
occurred in schools, or similar communities. In one instance during the year, a pupil residing
at a boarding school was found to be suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and with the
co-operation of the Chest Clinic the necessary investigations and preventive measures were
taken.
The Mass x-Ray Units which operate under the auspices of the South East Metropolitan
Hospital Board, continued to pay regular visits to sites in the Borough, these sessions being
available to the public without charge.
The total number of cases on the register showed a further decline from 2,649 at the
beginning of the year to 2,573 at the end of the year.
There were 5 deaths attributed to the disease compared with 4 in the preceding year.