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62
TUBERCULOSIS.
This part of the report, which has been prepared by the
Tuberculosis Officer, deals with the work of the Department
under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1912,
and under the Dispensary scheme approved by the Ministry
of Health and the London County Council who contribute
50 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively, of the nett expenditure.
Staff. At the end of the year the staff consisted of one
whole-time and one part-time Tuberculosis Officer, three
Tuberculosis Visitors, one Clerk-Dispenser, and one Lay
Organiser. Two changes have taken place during the year—
one whole-time Medical Officer being replaced by one halftime
Medical Officer, and one Nurse-Dispenser being replaced
by one Clerk-Dispenser. The half-time Medical Officer
devotes the other half of his time to work under the Council's
Maternity and Child Welfare scheme.
Notifications. The total number of notifications received
was 381, but 70 of these related to cases which had been
previously notified so that the total number of new notifications
was 311. The corresponding number for 1922 was
305. 17 cases of tuberculosis died before notification, compared
with 32 in 1922. The total cases coming under notice
for the first time during the year were 328, compared with
337 in the previous year. In August, 1923, all medical practitioners
were circularised by the Ministry of Health on their
obligations under the Tuberculosis Regulations, and it is
clear, from the increased number of duplicate notifications,
and from the small number of unnotified deaths, that increased
attention is being given by practitioners to notification.
Notifications received on forms “C” and “D,” i.e., notifications
from institutions regarding admissions and discharges,
are not included in the above figures.