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82
After History for five years of 249 New Gases of
Tuberculosis reported from all sources in 1933.
The close follow-up of cases of tuberculosis over a number
of years yields information of considerable practical importance.
An analysis, closely comparable with the Lancashire Country
Council Report, of the cases to show how they fared during the
five years succeeding 1933, that is to 1938, is here reproduced in
the form of a chart.
As in Lancashire, the observation of each living case has
been carried to a period of five years after the date when first
reported to us as tuberculous. For instance, a case first coming
to our notice in May, 1933, has been followed up (if living and
still tuberculous) until May, 1938.
The following noteworthy features are presented
1. 78.7 per cent of the gross number of new tuberculous
cases coming to our knowledge in the County Borough of East
Ham during 1933 were dealt with under the tuberculosis scheme.
A further 3.6 per cent. of the gross number related to cases in
which the statutory notification was cancelled, after a period of
observation.
2. The reasons why 17.66 per cent. of the gross number
did not come directly under the Council scheme were: (a) Cases
reported at death only 8.03 per cent.; (b) cases dying within
several weeks (average three weeks) of notification, 3.21 per
cent. ; (c) cases removing from the County Borough area several
days after notification, 2.41 per cent.; and (d) patients declining
to have treatment under the official Council scheme 4.01 per
cent.
3. Of the 162 pulmonary cases, 74 per cent. received one or
more periods of sanatorium or hospital treatment; of 34 nonpulmonary
cases, about nine-tenths received special treatment at
a hospital (e.g. orthopaedic and artificial light).
4. Of the net number (109 of definite pulmonary cases,
removals from the area, etc., excluded) 66 died from tuberculosis
within the five years (43.9 per cent dying in the first year, 21.2
in the second year, 15.1 per cent. in the third, 10.6 per cent. in
the fourth, and 9.1 per cent. in the fifth).