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In the Epidemiological world, Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis,
Food Poisoning and Vaccination against Smallpox engaged our
attention.
Tuberculosis.—This is the first time that the incidence of
Tuberculosis shows evidence that it has reached its peak in this
district; whilst the new treatment of this disease was clearly gaining
ground by a fall in the death rate, the incidence is showing an
increase, but some of this increase could be explained by:
(1) Better methods of diagnosis.
(2) The growing knowledge by members of the public of the
benefits of early diagnosis and treatment.
(3) The efforts made by Doctors, Health Visitors, Sanitary
Inspectors and the general Nursing Staff in advising the
people and bringing to their notice the methods of treatment
that are available. This is very much in evidence
in the ever-increasing numbers who attend the sessions
for mass radiography. The time has come when a Mass
Radiography Unit should be permanently established in
the district and made available to the general public.
(4) Better housing. It need hardly be stated that the improved
environmental conditions associated with housing
is a great factor. There still remains, however, the great
evil of the undiagnosed case which frequently adds untold
damage before it is detected, but a prompt rehousing of the
infected is well nigh impossible.
Firstly, great pains should be taken to impress on the people
the fact that Tuberculosis was still an infectious disease and should
be dealt with as such in all the phases of prevention, detection,
treatment and convalescence. The second point for emphasis is
that it is a social disease, involving all the attendant circumstances
connected with such a condition, viz., housing, nutrition, family
disorganisation, rehabilitation and welfare of the family as a whole.
The third point is the treatment. It is obvious that Chemotherapy
alone is not all the answer. Detection, prevention and the allimportant
one—the conduct and co-operation of the patient—is, of
course, of supreme importance.
The Minister of Health emphasised that prevention had the
first priority and this was becoming true not only of Tuberculosis
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