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62
Comments on Foregoing Table.
The organs most often attacked in descending order of
incidence are: In the males—the Bowels and Rectum (26.9 per
cent.), the Lungs (23.3 per cent.), and the Stomach (12.8 per
cent.); in females—the Bowels and Rectum (24.6 per cent.), the
Breast (24.1 per cent.), the Stomach (17.7 per cent.), and the
Uterus (11.2 per cent.)
THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF TUBERCULOSIS.
I am indebted to Dr. J. C. McMillan, the Assistant Medical
Officer of Health for Tuberculosis, for the statistical part of this
section of the report.
An Assistant Medical Officer was appointed to the Chest
Clinic during the year and she commenced her work on October
1st. She will undertake artificial pneumothorax, both at Cheam
and Mayday, and later, when arrangements have been made, at
the Chest Clinic. Her appointment will also permit of more
extensive examination of contacts—a most important branch of
prevention.
While prevention has so far yielded greater dividends than
treatment, treatment has not stood still. A survey of the incidence
and mortality figures in recent years shows greater
diminution in mortality than in incidence of the pulmonary form
of the disease.
Although social conditions are different and broadly unfavourable
in 1946, a comparison with 1916 is the best we can do. The
outstanding facts are these: In 1916, 127 per 100,000 of the
population in Croydon died from all forms of tuberculosis; in
1946 the corresponding figure was 47.
Owing to fluctuations in population the following statistics
cannot be correlated to those of previous war years.
Notification of Tuberculosis.
Two hundred and thirty-seven cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
and 24 cases of Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis were notified
on Form A (primary notifications); of these 143 males and 94
females were pulmonary cases; 13 males and 11 females nonpulmonary.
In addition, 72 pulmonary cases and 15 nonpulmonary
came to our notice as new cases otherwise than by
notification.