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45
It is for a variety of reasons impracticable at any one time to
be in possession of complete information on all cases on such a
register, but a regular follow-up by the departmental staff will go
far to maintain the general picture at its most informative level.
It is interesting to note that during the year certain housing
applicants were re-housed on the grounds of their suffering from an
infective type of tuberculosis.
Mass Radiography.—It is interesting to note from a review of
some 89 of the pulmonary cases notified during the year (excluding
transfers) that 8 of them came to light through mass radiography.
Contact Infection.—In 18 there was apparently a definite
association, at any rate in the minds of the family, between the
case and some other sufferer from the disease. A relation had been
notified in 15 of the 18 cases and rarely more than one relative had
been affected. In the remaining 3 of the 18 cases non-relatives
were mentioned, including, for example, a neighbour on terms of
close friendship with the affected household.
Housing.—It was observed that in 24 instances the inmates of
the houses concerned included persons not apparently belonging to
the. household immediately affected. Grandparents were not
regarded as forming a normal part of the immediate family.
As might be expected in a district of this character, the environmental
circumstances of the cases were not significant, in that, in
69 instances the sufferer lived in a house comprising 2 living and 3
bedrooms, in 6 instances one living room and 2 bedrooms, whilst
the accommodation for the remainder varied from one living room
and one bedroom (3) to 3 living rooms and 4 bedrooms (1).
Number in family.—The number of persons (including the
patient) comprising the affected families varied from 3 in 27
instances, 4 in 18 instances, 5 in 17, 6 in 11, 7 in 7 down to 9 in 2,
8 in 1, etc.
It appears to me interesting and unexpected to see that such a
relatively high proportion of the affected households comprised only
three persons, as this undoubtedly means that the housing conditions
of a substantial number of the new patients are of a very
satisfactory nature.
These points are merely submitted as of passing interest but
they do give a very general picture of the type of household affected,
the effect of family history and the prevailing environment. I
consider that in general the environment of tuberculosis sufferers in
this district is likely to be and to remain of a satisfactory standard
and with our present arrangement for according medical priority to
housing applicants the position is one which makes it reasonably
certain that all deserving cases receive sympathetic treatment.