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23
Tuberculosis.
The number of primary notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis
for the year is 284. The total number of notifications of tuberculosis,
pulmonary and non-pulmonary, is 363, and this figure is the
lowest ever recorded. The deaths from tuberculosis number 238.
At the close of 1929 there were 1,404 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
and 668 cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis on the register.
At the Tuberculosis Dispensaries 1,262 suspected cases, including
477 contacts of notified cases, were examined. Sputum examinations
numbered 1,125. The total number of attendances at the Dispensaries
was 6,756, and 179 cases were sent for treatment to residential insti
tutions. A full report on the working of the Tuberculosis Dispensaries
is contained on pages 57-60.
The circulars forwarded to medical practitioners, containing an
extract from Circular 549 of the Ministry of Health, which suggested
action by the local authority when notification had not been carried
out by medical practitioners, has greatly improved notification, and
there is now no delay in notifying these cases; but as regards cases
sent for treatment at the Dispensaries, there is still considerable room
for improvement. The deaths among Dispensary patients during the
past year numbered 129, and 48 of these patients, or 37 per cent., were
in the final stage of the disease on first attendance; 57 patients, or 44
per cent., were in the second stage. It also appears, from examination
of the case papers, that 44 of these cases, or 34 per cent., had been
suffering from the disease for a period varying from 3 to 12 months
before being referred to the Dispensary.
The Hackney Borough Council Act, 1926, has been of considerable
assistance as regards those persons suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis who were infectious and living under such circumstances
as to cause risk of infection to other persons. It has been possible to
effect considerable improvement in the home surroundings by reference
to the powers of removal contained in that Act, so that legal
proceedings and removal to hospital have not been necessary. Six
cases received residential institutional treatment during the year.
The Section of the Act relating to pulmonary tuberculosis, the Council
has been informed, is still in force, as Section 28 of the London
County Councii (General Powers) Act, 1928, differs in important details
from the provisions of the Hackney Borough Council Act.
Sanitary Inspection.
During the past year 5,906 Intimation Notices and over 1,600
Statutory Notices have been served, and the detailed work of sanitary
inspection has been carefully and conscientiously carried out. The