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57
Malaria and Dysentery.—One case of malaria was notified
during the year, this being a man 38 years of age who had spent
three years in West Africa and Singapore and who had had a few
mild attacks of the disease previously. The diagnosis of a case
notified as acute bacillary dysentery was not confirmed and the
notification was withdrawn.
Tuberculosis.—The number of new cases of tuberculosis
notified during the year and the number of deaths which occurred
are shown in Table IX. The cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
notified for the first time totalled 154, this number showing an
increase on the total of 141 cases in each of the two previous years.
Twenty-three cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were notified,
a number which is four less than that recorded in each of the two
previous years, and two less than the average for the previous
five years.
The total number of deaths from the disease was 80 (pulmonary
63, non-pulmonary 17), this figure being one more than in the
previous year. Owing to the increase in population, however,
the tuberculosis death-rate again shows a slight decrease and the
figure of 0.62 per thousand of population is the lowest death-rate
from the disease in the last twelve years.
Twelve persons were certified as dying from pulmonary
tuberculosis although they had not been notified as suffering
from the disease, seven of these being attended by local doctors
and five dying outside the district. Four deaths from nonpulmonary
tuberculosis had not been previously notified, two
being attended by local doctors and two dying outside the district.
Where a local medical practitioner fails to notify a case previous
to death a communication is sent drawing his attention to the
requirements of the Public Health (Notification of Infectious
Disease) Regulations, 1918.
The number of cases remaining on the tuberculosis register
at the end of the year was 514 (416 pulmonary and 98 nonpulmonary),
this total comparing with 475 (366 pulmonary and
109 non-pulmonary) at the end of 1932. Every effort is made to
keep the information in this register up-to-date. Periodically
information is obtained from the Tuberculosis Officer regarding