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-10-
TUBERCULOSIS.
The case rate for new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
notified during 1942 was 90 Per 100,000 population compared
with 68, 61, 56, 58 and 65 in the last 5 years.
The average case rate for this District from 1915 to
1924 was 115 and from 1925 to 1934, 88. In common with the
rest of the country an increase in the incidence of this disease
has undoubtedly occurred, a fact which could not be stated
locally until the end of 1942. In this District during 1942
the increase was most marked among males, particularly those
over 45 years of age, 2/3 of whom were over 55 years at the time
of notification. Presumably this increase is due to the
influence of war conditions and it might be considered if and
how these can be modified.
On the other hand the non-pulmonary case rate was only
14 per 100,000 population compared with 23, 16, 21, 18 and 13
in the last 5 years and averages for the decades 1915-24 and
1925-34 of 15 and 18.
The death rate from pulmonary tuberculosis was 40 per
100,000 which compares favourably with 55, 43, 21 and 27 in the
last four years as also with the rates of 72, 57, 36 and 38 for the
four quinquennial periods 1915-34.
Similarly the non-pulmonary death rate was only 8 per
100,000 compared with 11, 6 and 9 in the last three years.
All the methods previously used in an attempt to
prevent the spread of this disease were continued throughout
the year.
AMBULANCES.
For Infectious Disease Cases. The arrangements made for the
conveyance of cases of infectious disease remained unchanged
during the year.
Accident and General Cases, Similarly no alteration was made
in the General Ambulance Service, which since August 1941 has
been under the control of the Medical Officer of Health and is
staffed by the First Aid and Light Rescue Service'.
The services of the local Report and Control Centre
were again utilised in despatching the ambulances.
HOSPITALS.
No major alteration was made during the year in the
hospitals providing for the needs of the district.
LABORATORY FACILITIES AND DISINFECTION.
The only alteration in the above services made during
1942 was that a proportion of the samples of milk and water for
bacteriological examination were sent to the E.M.S. Laboratory
at Epsom College.
Examinations of swabs for diphtheria and sputa for
tuberculosis were carried cut as usual by the Medical Staff of
the Wandle Valley Isolation Hospital.
In addition an arrangement exists whereby other
specimens, the examination of which is important to public
health, are examined by the Bacteriologist at Croydon General
Hospital.
No alteration was made in the arrangements for
disinfection, except those referred to under "Scabies" above.
HEALTH PROPAGANDA.
This was continued chiefly through the Health Visitors
and by the use of selected posters, pamphlets, etc. published
by the Central Council for Health Education.