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the remissness on the part of medical men in not notifying persons suffering
from Phthisis immediately they have made up their minds as to the diagnosis.
It may be supposed that the cases which are not notified are residents of
Mental Hospitals and other places where notification and subsequent action
by the Health Department would not result in any benefit. Of the 29 deaths
from Phthisis that occurred at these Institutions during the year, 16 were not
notified at all, and 13 were notified.
167 died in Institutions other than Lunatic Asylums or Mental Hospitals,
e.g., Infirmaries, Hospitals, etc.
Of these, 93 were notified during life-time and 74 were not notified.
103 died at their own homes, and of these, 41 had never been notified,
the only intimation being the weekly returns of the local Registrar of Births
and Deaths. 3 were notified at the time of death only, 3 within one month
of death, and 5 between 1 and 3 months of death.
The local infirmaries were the worst offenders in notifying the cases at
death only, 14 notifications being so received.
The same remarks apply to diseases of a Tubercular nature other than
Phthisis. Of the 47 deaths, 29 had not been notified during life-time, 18 had
been notified, but of these, 13 had been notified at the time of death only,
and two about a month before they died.
' 13 of the deaths from Phthisis occurred nearly 4 years after they had
been notified, 7 nearly 5 years after, 1 nearly 6 years, 5 nearly 7 years, 2
nearly 8 years, and 2 nearly 9 years after notification.
In one house in 1921, the husband and wife died from Phthisis, and a
child, aged two, died from Tubercular Meningitis.
No age is altogether exempt from the disease, though it is generally
considered to be rare at the two extremes of life. In our district in 1921,
55 per cent. of the deaths were persons above 40 years of age, 26 per cent.
were above 50, 9.3 per Cent. were above 60, and 3 per cent. were above 70
years of age.
Tuberculosis Dispensaries.
The subjoined tables of figures show the number of patients dealt with
by the three Tuberculosis Dispensaries during the year, together with an
analysis of the diagnosis, etc., of the new patients.
Attention has been directed towards eliminating work in the Dispensaries
which interferes with the more important preventive measures, and which is
of little praotical value.