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42
Tuberculosis.
The three appendices, 6, 7 and 8, give statistical facts of tuberculosis
in Chislehurst and Sidcup. The increase of cases on the register
is due to two main facts: —
(a) The priority given to T.B. families in the selection of tenants
for the London County Council St. Paul's Cray Estate.
(b) The greater facilities for and the advance in the diagnosis of
the disease in the early stages.
If one looks more deeply into the incidence of cases notified for
the first time since 1937, it will be seen that there is little change year
by year. It is true an incidence of 1.02 per 1,000 in 1937 has become
an incidence of 1.23 in 1950, but this is probably due to the greater
facilities for diagnosis and the readiness of general practitioners to
notify such cases. If the population of Chislehurst and Sidcup had
remained stationary over the years since 1937, it is very doubtful
indeed whether the statistics would have shown this apparent increase
of incidence.
From the appendices it will also be seen that in 1950 the number
of cases increased by 396, only 99 of which were new, the remainder
being transferred cases from London. It will be interesting to watch
the effect of the new environment of Chislehurst and Sidcup upon these
transferred cases.
The coming of the Mass X-Ray unit in the early months of 1951
will tend to increase the incidence for that year, as it will bring to
light some cases in the early stages of the infection which, perhaps
would not have been diagnosed for some years to come.
That the notification of this disease is a correct standard on which
to base the incidence in Chislehurst and Sidcup is shown by the fact
that there were no deaths from tuberculosis which had not been
previously notified.
Food Poisoning.
There were 46 cases of Food Poisoning notified during the year,
31 of which were single cases. Of this 31, three cases were caused
by an agent identified as Salmonella Typhi-Murium, and in the
remaining 28 cases the cause was unknown. There were three
outbreaks involving 15 people.
The great difficulty in regard to investigation of food poisoning
notifications is that unless they are notified by 'phone, they are received
too late for practical investigation into the cause. Suspected food
has been destroyed, and stool specimens taken too late. It follows
that the statistics do not give a true picture—more cases are certainly
being notified but only a small percentage can be proved. Fortunately,
none of the outbreaks were severe, either in extent or character. Only
one case was admitted to hospital.