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advanced to an enormous degree, and forms of treatment such as
"absolute rest" have shown signs of healing which it would have
been impossible to appreciate in any other way.
Chronic Miliary Tuberculosis:
Several cases showing the radiological features of a general
miliary tuberculosis (which has hitherto been regarded as an
acute and rapidly fatal disease), whose course has been a chronic
one, have been seen at the Clinic. X-ray examination of the
chest has brought the condition to our notice, and the extended
chronic course with signs of natural resolution following treatment
by prolonged rest has been revealed through repeated radiograms
over periodic intervals.
Acute adolescent phthisis:
Mention has been made in previous reports of the numbers
of cases of adolescent phthisis occurring, especially in young girls
of the 15—25 age period. Despite the steadily declining death
rate in this disease the young" adult death rate is not declining.
Again, it is astonishing how silent these cases often are from
the point of view of symptoms and signs.
This is so misleading that it is often extremely deceptive to
both patient and doctor. Many of these cases who attend here
show extensive signs of disease on X-ray examination, despite
very few symptoms and signs.
There would appear to be a phase in these young adolescents
when the disease is apparently quite latent. It is more than
probable that if we were to X-ray many of these young adolescents,
even though they were free from symptoms, radiological evidence
of disease would be detected.
Treatment at that stage might well prevent onset of active
clinical disease, and so assist in the reduction of the high mortality
rate of pulmonary tuberculosis at this dangerous age period.
The problem is becoming such a social menace at this age
period that the matter must be constantly in our minds.