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Although patients are now more often detected in an earlier phase of the disease, a large proportion
(about 1 in 5) still die unnotified, and together with those who die within a year of notification make up
almost half the deaths; the actual number of deaths, however, was much lower in 1952 and so fewer patients
were involved. Nevertheless, the fact that 12 cases were either undiagnosed or diagnosed only within a year
of death, is unsatisfactory, since some may have survived if they received earlier treatment, and they are
likely to have spread disease to others.

Prevention of the Disease
Non.pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by drinking milk containing bovine tubercle bacilli, and can
therefore be prevented by eliminating infected cows and milk. It is now an offence to sell raw milk in
Willesden (see page 32).
Pulmonary tuberculosis is mainly spread by droplet infection and therefore usually to people who
live and work in overcrowded conditions and whose resistance is lowered by poor nutrition. The case rates
by wards show the significance of environment : wards such as Roundwood, Mapesbury, Willesden Green
and Carlton, where there is the most overcrowding among the poorer sections of the population, have rates
well above the average, contrasting badly with Gladstone, Manor and Brondesbury Park wards.