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years past, but last year the figures were really remarkable by
comparison with pre-war figures. As regards the country as a
whole the same marked drop in the number of deaths has been
noted, but notifications of new cases tended to remain stable.
Some improvement in this figure has however been recorded
during the last two years.
" It is important to appreciate that the amount of work
necessary to maintain control, and to improve the situation further,
is still very considerable. The number of cases on clinic
registers requiring supervision does not fall and the total amount
of work necessary as regards diagnosis, treatment, prevention and
general care remains high and increases. This fact should be
remembered in considering what further developments might
still be required. It is too early to suppose that no further effort
is necessary."
Tuberculosis Case Conferences.—These Conferences started in
June, 1953 at approximately monthly intervals and 9 were held
during 1954. The Conferences afforded opportunities for the staff
of the Chest Clinic and of the Health Department to meet and
discuss new notifications, hospital admissions and discharges, the
contacts register, non-notifications and medical priority in re-housing.
Other action in regard to Ascertainment and Follow-up—
(i) A chest X-ray examination on appointment is required in
regard to those persons in contact with groups of
children.
(ii) When a new case of pulmonary tuberculosis is notified,
enquiry is made as to infectivity, and if sputum positive,
all the records are marked accordingly, and action is taken
as if it were a case of major infectious disease.
(iii) Case finding by the tuberculin patch testing of school
entrants was continued in 1954.
Walthamstow and Chingford Association of Tuberculosis Care
Helpers.
Miss A. Woolgar, Honorary Secretary of the Walthamstow
and Chingford Association of Tuberculosis Care Helpers, contributes
the following report :—
" During the past year we have continued our policy of
doing what we can to ensure that those families which are our
special responsibility are adequately nourished, adding such other
help as appears necessary or desirable from time to time.