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39
The Kingston patient was allowed to return to work, after
consultation with, Ms own doctor and when he was well and
free from infections
Tuberculosis,,
The total number of new cases of tuberculosis notified
in respect of Kingston residents during 1955 was 20 and this
is the lowest figure ever recorded in the town. The number
of notifications referring to respiratory disease was 14*
the remainder being cases where other parts of the body were
affectede The efficiency of notification is good and there
is no reason to suspect refusal or neglect to notify„
There has been established over the past few years a
regular annual visit to the town by the South West Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board Mass X-Ray Unite The Unit
was In Kingston during March and May 1955 and a total of
8,831 was examinedo As a result of X-Ray 6 cases of active
pulmonary tuberculosis were discovered. A further 317 inactive
cases were recorded and also a considerable number of
non-tuberculous abnormalities. (It should be borne in mind
that these figures do not necessarily relate to Kingston
residents only).
The rate of new active cases discovered in this way is
less than 1 per l,000 and there is reason to believe that
they were in the main early stage infections which should
respond well to treatment. There is a double advantage to
be gained in discovering tuberculosis in its early stages.
Firstly, the condition is more easily and more certainly
cared in a shorter time and secondlys the patient will have
had less opportunity to spread the infection to others
before receiving treatment
The latest methods of treatment by drugs and surgery
are increasingly successful and the death rate from tuberculosis
is rapidly decreasing nationally. There were 6
deaths of Kingston residents from tuberculosis during 1955
and 3 of these persons were over 70 years of age.

The ratio of non-notified cases to total deaths for 1955
and the preceding 4 years is as follows:-
1951 1952 1953 1954 1955
1 : 3 1:2 1 : 5 1:4 1 : 3