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A broad classification of the cases notified during the year in
relation to employment was:
Clerical 7
Manual labour 7
Housewives 6
Factory workers 5
Children 3
Professional classes 2
Domestic service 1
Nurses 1
Shop assistants 1
Armed forces 1
Unclassified 6
Total 40
From the notifications of tuberculosis over the past three years,
it would appear at first sight that this disease has been declining in
Wood Green. This would be an extremely dangerous assumption,
due to the short period and the comparatively small number of
cases involved. This year's total (59) is certainly small, but it
should not lead to any complacency. We must still be perturbed
by the fact that so many cases of tuberculosis are occurring each
year within the Borough, each case being a potential focus of
infection. I have already mentioned the part which housing plays
in the control of tuberculosis. For this reason and I have had many
consultations with the Housing Officer in regard to the housing of
families in which a case of tuberculosis has occurred, I am very
glad of the opportunity to express my sincere appreciation of the
co-operation which I have always received from the Housing Committee
and from the Housing Officer. There is no doubt that the
spending of very large sums of money on sanatoria and treatment
is illogical if the fundamental factors governing the occurrence and
spread of tuberculosis, mainly housing and nutrition, are left to
fend for themselves. One must admit that this is a national
problem, which should be tackled at national level. In spite of
this, local authorities can play their part, and should become a
potent influence in combating this most serious disease.
During 1952, the Ministry of Health notified us that certain
changes would be made in the registration of cases of tuberculosis.
Broadly speaking, the official register is now being maintained by
the appropriate Chest Clinics, although the Minister stated that
he hoped an unofficial register would continue to be kept by local
authorities. We have done this, so that we may know at any given
time what is happening in the Borough.
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