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In 1930 the deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis in the age
groups 15 to '20 years and over 55 years exceeded those for 1929
but in the intervening years there were fewer deaths. The greatest
number of deaths in women occurred in the age group 15 to 20
years, after which there was a gradual fall whereas among men
the maximum occurred in the 25 to 35 years age group. From 25
years onwards the deaths among males exceeded those in females.
The greater proportion of new cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
were in the age groups comprising 15 to 35 years. In the age
groups 15 to 25 years there was a greater number of new cases
among women but after 25 years there was a greater number in
men. There is a close similarity between the age distribution of
new cases and of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis. The figures
indicate that pulmonary tuberculosis is a rare disease in the first
10 years of life. This apparent result may be accounted for by
the fact that physical examination alone is of little value in the
detection of pulmonary tuberculosis in children which can as a
rule only be shown by X-ray examination.
Non pulmonary tuberculosis shows its greatest incidence earlier
viz., between the 5th and 10th years of life. The death rate,
however, is highest in the first 5 years of life.
&
Tables LVIII—LIX. Summarise the condition of all patients
whose records are at the Dispensary at the end of 1930. These
tables show that of patients who came under treatment for pulmonary
tuberculosis before 1926, 274 adults and 87 children have
been discharged as cured. Of these all but 4 were early cases;
94 adults and 11 children in the same group were found to have
the disease arrested. Of these 95 were early cases. Of cases first
coming under notice in 1926, 21 adults had arrested disease of
whom 19 were early cases. Of the 1927 cases, 20 adults and 2
children had arrested disease, all being early cases. 13 of the
1928 cases also had arrested disease.
Of patients who first attended prior to 1926, 282 have been
lost sight of or otherwise removed from the Dispensary Register,
and since that date 195. In 1930 16 patients were lost sight of.
Of patients who attended prior to 1926, 204 adults and 12
children are known to have died; since 1926, 355 are known to
have died. Of patients attending for the first time in 1930 26
have died.