View report page

34
THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF TUBERCULOSIS.
I am indebted to Dr. R. H. J. Fanthorpe, Chest Physician,
for the following section of the Report.
Although social conditions were different in 1952, a comparison
with 1925 shows that in 1925, 92 per 100,000 of the
population in Croydon died from all forms of tuberculosis; in
1952 the corresponding figure was 21.6. The years selected were
seven years after a major war.
It is now certain that the Chest Clinic will be moved from
its existing centrally situated premises in Katharine Street. The
new Clinic will be housed on the ground floor of the Mayday
Road Offices, and although this accommodation may offer some
advantage in terms of working facilities, the site is far less
accessible to patients. This is likely to throw a further burden
on the ambulance and car service.
In March, 1952, Coombe Wood Hospital was opened, and
its use for the treatment of early non-infectious cases of minimal
tuberculosis and pleural effusions has helped markedly to reduce
the waiting period for patients for admission to hospital. In
addition, it has been used for the convalescence of post-operative
surgical patients.
In 1952 there was a general reduction in the waiting period
for patients for admission to hospital. Patients recommended
for major thoracic surgery still have to wait either in hospital
locally or at home, but the position was considerably better in
1952, when compared with the previous year. As more surgical
beds become available it is hoped that the situation will improve
still further.
Early in 1952 Isoniazide became available for use in this
country and, together will Streptomycin and Para-amino-salicylic
acid, it is proving a most valuable chemotherapeutic agent.
Incidence.
224 cases of Respiratory Tuberculosis and 19 cases of NonRespiratory
Tuberculosis were notified on Form A during 1952
(Table I—Formal Notifications). Of these 135 males and 89
females were Respiratory cases and 7 males and 12 females were
Non-Respiratory. In addition, 82 Respiratory cases and 6 NonRespiratory
cases came to our notice as new cases otherwise than
by notification (Table II—Supplemental Return).
Of the 135 new cases of male Respiratory Tuberculosis
notified on Form A during the year, 59 were over the age of 45.
This represents 43.7 per cent. of male formal notifications. A