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66
Dr. Philip Ellman reports as follows on the principal features
of the work at the Tuberculosis and Chest Clinic for 1935.
Statistical:
The number of primary notifications during the year 1935
was 255 as compared with 258 for ,1934.
Of these primary notifications in 41.7 per cent. tubercle bacilli
were found in the sputum. In other words, 41.7 per cent, of cases
were definitely infectious, and the smaller this number becomes
the better the ultimate outlook for the individual sufferers.
It is again emphasised how ill-advised it is to wait for a
positive sputum before a diagnosis is made, given that other
criteria are present enabling one to establish a positive diagnosis
of pulmonary tuberculosis. The results in the negative sputum
cases are, as a general rule, infinitely superior in the "noninfectious"
cases.
The Clinic Sessions:
Our entry into the new Clinic took place only in September of
this year, but our facilities have since improved beyond measure.
Since November there has been a re-arrangement of the
Clinic sessions, anil we have now the valuable co-operation of
Dr. Crawford, enabling me to apply my attention principally to
new cases.
Notifications:
The total number of notified cases on the register of the
Clinic on 31st December, 1935, was 974 (pulmonary and nonpulmonary),
or 7.19 per 1,000 estimated population, as opposed
to 959 or 6.99 per 1,000 population in the previous year. Of these
364 (or 37.4 per cent.) were definitely infectious, i.e., cases in
which tubercle bacilli have been found in the sputum at some
period of the illness.