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THE PREVENTION AN!) CONTROL OF TUBERCULOSIS
I am indebted to Dr. R.H.J. Fanthorpe, Chest Physician, for
the following section of the Report.
Measures for the prevention and treatment of Tuberculosis
are directed from the Chest Clinic and the results during 1956
may be regarded as satisfactory.
The number of deaths from all forms of Tuberculosis during
1956 was 26 which shows a decrease by 9 when compared with 1955,
The incidence of the disease during the year has shown some
increase, due in the main to improved case finding methods.
In January 1956, a General Practitioner Miniature X-ray service
was started at the Chest Clinic. The local practitioners
were given facilities for sending patients for chest x-ray by a
miniature camera unit. Any abnormalities found by this method
were investigated and treated at the Clinic and in the hospital
beds associated with the Department.
The results of this service are summarised below: -
Number of miniature films taken 3,017
Number of patients recalled for examination
and large film 431
Number of active cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
found 22
Number of cases of lung cancer found 16
It will be seen that the number of patients found suffering
from Pulmonary Tuberculosis represents a rate of 7.29 per 1,000
which compares favourably with the figure of 1.45 per 1,000 from
Public Mass X-ray Surveys. It should be realised that patients
referred to the clinic for Miniature X-ray usually have chest
symptoms whereas many patients attending public Mass Radiograph
sessions have no symptoms.
The Miniature X-ray service represents a new method of case
finding and it is hoped to extend its scope in the coming year,
to include special groups, i.e., expectant mothers, diabetics
and others.
The statistics of the Miniature Camera Unit have been simplified
and many other abnormalities were found and treated.
Whilst this section of the report is concerned with Tuberculosis
it should be realised that all chest conditions are seen
and treated at the Chest Clinic. With the decline in Tuberculosis