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1,247 new cases were examined during the year. This is
equal to 1,113 for each 100 deaths from the disease. 238 or 212
for each 100 deaths were found to, be definitely tuberculous.
The total number of attendances at the Clinic was 10,401.
The Tuberculosis Officer paid 189 home visits and the District
I lealth Visitors 1,906 visits for Clinic purposes. In addition,
the Health Visitors made 537 primary visits for the purpose of '
i he Xotification Register.
The Tuberculosis Officers paid 159 visits to Mayday Hospital
in a consultative capacity, and there examined 1,102 patients.
Patients requiring home nursing or surgical dressings are
attended to by the nurses from the Croydon Nursing Service, by
arrangement with that organisation, and 520 such visits were
made during the year. Their assistance is a valuable adjunct in
the care of domiciliary cases.
Contact Examination.
The contacts of definite cases are urged to attend the
Clinic for examination (and subsequent supervision). This is an
important preventive measure. During the year 451 contacts
were examined, equal to 403 for each 100 deaths, compared with
330 per 100 deaths in 1947, 294 in 1946, 153 in 1945, 181 in 1944,
267 in 1943, 238 in 1942, 227 in 1941, 27'8 in 1940 , 325 in 1939,
and 301 in 1938. Of these, 12 were considered to be tuberculous.
This is equal to a tuberculosis rate per 1,000 contacts of 26.6
compared with 1.42 per 1,000 of the general population.
595 appointments for examination were offered to.new contacts
during 1948, but only 451 new contacts attended and were
examined.
The Clinic Register of Cases.
The number of cases of Tuberculosis under the supervision
of the Clinic at the end of the year was 1,404. This is equivalent
to 5.6 persons per 1,000 of the population.
During the year 106 Clinic cases died. Of this number 18 or
17 per cent, were seen for the first time in 1948.
Tuberculosis Maintenance and Other Allowances.
The Ministry of Health Tuberculosis Maintenance Allowances
(as in Memorandum 266/T) to alleviate patients' financial
distress caused by loss of income when undertaking treatment for
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, continued to be administered until
July 4th, 1948. After this date financial distress was dealt with
under the National Assistance Act.
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