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108
TUBERCULOSIS.
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1936.
By Dr. P. L. T. BENNETT,
Clinical Tuberculosis Officer and Medical Officer, Borough Bacteriological Laboratory.
There has been no change either of Staff or of the routine at the Tuberculosis Dispensary
during the year.
A summary of tuberculosis statistics is given at the end of this report. The figures,
tfiough slightly increased from the previous year as a whole do not call for any particular comment;
and it should be pointed out that the slight increase in the number of suspected cases sent for
examination and the few more notifications do nc-i imply that the disease is on the increase. The
investigation of statistical returns in other areas show similar yearly variations, and most of such
returns, studied over a period of years, show a very decided decline both in mortality and
incidence.
Therefore, in endeavouring to make any deductions, a period of years should be taken,
rather than any particular year—always bearing in mind that the campaign against tuberculosis
cannot be a spectacular one showing immediate results.
There still exists a great deal of misconception in the lay mind as to what tuberculosis
is, and how the national campaign against its ravages is conducted.
A brief description of the disease and its history, and the present measures adopted for the
furtherance of its control by the State, may therefore be helpful.
A definition of tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is a disease due to a specific micro-organism, it may be acute or chronic in
type; and is infectious within certain limits an! under certain conditions, the incubation period
being extremely variable, varying (according to individual factors) from weeks to years. •
The causative organism.
A minute, rod-shaped bacillus, believed to be of the fungoid or mould group: it is readily
demonstrated in pathological material (sputum, discharges, excreta, etc.) by a process of staining
known as the "Ziehl Neelsen" method—an investigation which is carried out very extensively
in the Borough Laboratory. Tubercle bacilli capable of causing disease in man, are derived from
the sputum, discharges or excreta of consumptive individuals; and from the milk (or flesh) of
diseased cattle.
Tuberculous milk is responsible for a large proportion of the bone and joint tuberculosis
in children, and may give rise to fatal disease.