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Of the deductions, 129 (121 pulmonary) were of persons who had
left the district; 46 (41 pulmonary) were of persons who had died; 49 (41
pulmonary) were of persons who had recovered, while six (five pulmonary)
were of persons in respect of whom the diagnosis had been
withdrawn and 14 were of persons who had been lost sight of.
The net increase in the number of cases on the register is 40, as
while there was an increase of 42 in the number of pulmonary cases
there was a fall of two in the number of non-pulmonary cases. The net
increase is markedly less than that of recent years, as in 1951 the figure
was 153 and in 1950 160.
Deaths.
34 persons (20 male and 14 female) died from pulmonary tuberculosis
during the year and four (one male and three female) from nonpulmonary
tuberculosis. These figures are much smaller than the corresponding
figures of 41 and seven for the preceding year. This infection
accounted for a death rate per thousand population of 017, and for just
under 2 per cent. of the total deaths, in each case this being a slight
decline on the figures for the previous year. These, however, were a
very marked improvement on the figures of .0.26 and 3.0 for 1949 which,
in their turn, were such an improvement on the figures of 0.42 and 4.9
for 1948.
Preventive Measures.
Most people are exposed to infection by the tubercle bacillus. Only
a small proportion of those exposed succumb to such an extent that they
are said to be suffering from tuberculosis. It is recognised that the
development of the disease follows other illnesses. It is appreciated too
that those suffering from some diseases are more likely than are members
of the general population to suffer from tuberculosis. Close contact with
an infection is considered to be the cause of the development of illness
amongst some; in others it is felt that the development is precipitated by
conditions at work. In the case of many persons who suffer from tuberculosis
then, it is felt that those factors which led to the development of
the disease in those patients are known. But in many others there is no
apparent reason. They seem to be no more exposed to infection than