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66
With the ever increasing ease and certainty with which
pulmonary tuberculosis is diagnosed, it is encouraging to record a
fairly steady decline in the number of new cases being notified year
by year.
As will be seen from the above table, newly diagnosed cases
in the area during 1955 numbered 51. which compares with 48 in
1954. 69 in 1953, and 83 in 1952. That we should get such a
decline over such a comparatively short period is a very healthy sign
and. taking into consideration the fact that modern diagnostic
facilities tend to make the disease discovered at an earlier stage
than formerly, augurs well for the future. As a general rule it
can be said that the earlier a case is recognised, the shorter the
period of treatment, with a corresponding reduction in the period
of possible infectivity to others.
MASS X-RAY.
A very close and satisfactory liaison exists between this
department and Dr. J. M. Morgan, the Director of the Mass X-Ray
Unit of the South Eastern Regional Hospital Board, which operates
from time to time in this area, and I am very grateful to him and
his staff especially for supplying me with the statistics upon which
the following information is based.
During the year, 8,811 people were x-rayed, of whom 5.778
were women, and of the grand total as many as 4,170 had previously
taken advantage of this service.
Of the 180 abnormalities discovered, 90 required no action,
and 41 were considered tuberculous. Of this latter group, 19
required treatment, 18 needed occasional supervision only, and the
remaining 4 are still under investigation. The rest of the 180
consisted of non-tuberculous chest conditions, cardiac abnormalities
and a few previously known tuberculous cases.
Whilst these figures show that there would appear to be some
4,170 persons who have recognised the value of regular examination
of this type, there were only 4,641 new converts, and it is safe
to say that a much higher percentage of people will have to be
encouraged to co-operate with this service if we are to succeed in
our aim of the eventual elimination of the scourge of tuberculosis
from our midst.
For information, the number x-rayed at previous visits of the
unit were :—
Year. Number.
1951 6,970
1953 5,577