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also appears to be a definite indication that pneumonia as a notifiable
disease is on the increase in Southgate. Last year, approximately
17 per cent, of the total number of cases of infectious disease
notified during the year was attributable to this disease, while for
the past year the percentage has risen to 24.4. It is still obvious
that pneumonia is not receiving the attention which it demands.
Scientific investigation, particularly along the lines of typing the
strains of pneumococcus responsible for infection and providing
specific sera in each case, has done much in other countries to
reduce the severity of the disease. Here, we would appear to
have lagged behind, as the treatment of pneumonia in many parts
of this country still savours of the hit or miss, purely symptomatic
method. I hope, when the extensions at the Isolation Hospital
admit of improved facilities, to establish th,e means of investigating
every case reported, in a. thorough, scientific manner. AVhen this
is done, it should be possible to offer treatment to pneumonia
patients which at the moment is only available in certain, isolated
instances.
Eleven cases of pneumonia, mostly associated with influenza,
were admitted to the Isolation Hospital during the epidemic period,
following a letter addressed to all general practitioners offering
accommodation. It is my own firm belief that pneumonia is best
treated in an Isolation Hospital, rather than at home or in the open
wards of p ceneral institution. At the moment, accommodation at
the Isolation Hospital does not permit of this ideal being reached,
but with the new extensions, accommodation sihould be available for
every case notified within the Borough.
Tuberculosis.—Forty-four cases of pulmonary and eight
cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were notified during the year
under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1912, the
corresponding figures for 1936 being, pulmonary cases, 47; nonpulmonary
cases, 11. In addition to these notified oases, 28
patients were entered in the register (24 pulmonary, 4 nonpulmonary),
these cases being new residents in the district, previously
notified elsewhere.
Twenty-eight deaths occurred, 25 from pulmonary and 3 from
non-pulmonary tuberculosis. Five of these cases had not previously
been notified, a ratio of 17.8 per cent, as against 18.9 per cent,
in 1936.
It will be observed that the notifications of tuberculosis showed
a small but welcome decrease from the figures relating to the
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