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10 cases suffered from affections of the female genital organs.
4 had conditions recognised to be pre-cancerous.
6 had conditions unconnected with cancer but requiring treatment.
14 cases had abnormal breast conditions.
1 had an innocent tumour, which occasionally later on becomes malignant.
2 had cystic inflammation.
11 (including 2 men) had chronic inflammation.
17 cases had affections of the alimentary tract—11 women and 6 men. These included
2 cases of gastric, and 1 case of duodenal ulcer, and 10 other conditions liable
to become cancerous.
3 cases had innocent tumours of the body wall.
26 cases suffered from a variety of general conditions giving rise to symptoms which were
causing them anxiety, but which were found to be unconnected with cancer.
With a view to obtaining further information about cancer, the Medical Officer in the course
of examining patients makes inquiry into the causes of delay in seeking advice or in obtaining treatment,
and into any predisposing factor in work, habits, or previous health.
The Nurse attached to the Clinic also, where these are welcomed, pays following-up visits
to the homes of patients attending. During last year 105 of these visits were paid. Similar inquiries
are pursued by her on these occasions, and also in the course of special visits which she pays when
disinfection is asked for after a death from cancer. The object in the death inquiry visits is to
obtain facts as to the site and duration of the disease and the time that elapsed between the first
symptom and the seeking of medical advice. Only 29 such requests were made in 1931, and no
deductions can be drawn from the figures available, but this line of inquiry may ultimately yield
information about a sufficient number of cases to be reliable as a guide to future action.
All the above investigations are somewhat difficult as yet. There is a special reticence on
the part of patients connected with the subject. They seem to desire anonymity, and this wish is
respected in the hope that with the spread of knowledge this feeling will abate, and still more satisfactory
results be obtained.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
During the year 1931, 2,212 cases of Infectious Disease were notified as compared with 2,029
in the previous year. The total of 2,212 includes 310 notifications of Diphtheria as compared with
491 in 1930, 467 cases of Scarlet Fever as compared with 518 in 1930, 392 cases of Pneumonia as
compared with 266 in 1930 and 514 cases of Whooping Cough as compared with 229 in 1930.
Return Cases of Scarlet Fever.—The following statement gives the return cases that
have occurred during 1931:—
I. Home Cases.—Approximately 58.
(a) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases not longer than
28 days after release from isolation 2
„ return cases they gave rise to 2
,, infecting cases per cent. of total home cases 3.4
,, return cases per cent. of total home cases 3.4
(b) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases more than 28
days after release from isolation 0
,, return cases they gave rise to 0
,, infecting cases per cent. of total home cases 0
,, return cases per cent. of total home cases 0
II. Hospital Cases.—Approximately 409.
(a) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases not longer than
28 days after discharge 18
„ return cases they gave rise to 20
,, infecting cases per cent. of total hospital cases 4-4
„ return cases per cent. of total hospital cases 4-9
Note.—One of these return cases occurred after the 28 days, but the
first return case had occurred within the 28 days.
(b) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases more than 28
days after discharge 4
„ return cases they gave rise to 6
„ of infecting cases per cent. of total hospital cases 1.0
„ return cases per cent. of total hospital cases 1.5