View report page

(Note - An analysis of the total notified cases
during 1952 in age groups is shown on the following
page)
The ratio of non-notified cases to total deaths for
1952 and the preceding four years is as follows
11948 1949 1950 1951 1952
1:24 1:11 1:6 1:3 1:2
The total number of cases notified is lower than in any
©f the ten preceding years. The number of pulmonary cases
has, however, risen as compared with the three previous years,
and the number of non-pulmonary cases has shown a remarkable
drop0
With regard to the pulmonary cases there is no doubt
that an increased number of notifications in 1952 was due
to the visit in November 1951 to Kingston of the Regional
Hospital Board Mass Radiography Unit. Cases and suspected
cases wore discovered during the survey, and by the time
the persons concerned had been examined by the Chest Physician,
and full tests made the notifications did not
come forward until 1952. These facts are confirmed by
the Chest Physician who also, by constantly checking
contacts of known and suspected cases of pulmonary
tuberculosis, has discovered further cases which may
otherwise have gone undetected until the disease was much
more advanced.
During 1952 no action became necessary under the
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1925, or Section 172 of the Public Health Act, 1936.
Very close co-operation is maintained with the Kingston
and District Tuberculosis Care Committee, whose field of
work is coincidental with the North Central Division.
The Medical Officer of Health is Chairman of the Care
Committee and considerable assistance has been given to
patients. There is no doubt that this body is fulfilling
its function of helping towards the rehabilitation of
tuberculous patients.