[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

VII.—TUBERCULOSIS General Remarks. In reviewing the work of the Chest Diseases Department during the year 1960, the statistics shew that attendances remain at over 9,000. This figure is about double that of the attendances in 1950. As in other Chest Diseases Clinics the type of disease for which consultation is sought is also steadily changing. Combined bronchitis and heart conditions are now most frequently found amongst new patients. The cases resulting from tuberculous infection shew a further decline when compared with last year’s figures. One of the most surprising findings is the advanced age of some of the patients who died of tuber¬ culosis. When considering case rates due to tuberculous infection, perhaps the most encouraging factor is the comparative rarity of tuber¬ culosis amongst adolescents and young adults. Among the thirty-eight primary notifications very few of the patients were under 20 years of age. This improved state of affairs reflects in a large measure the success of the combined social, industrial and medical anti-tuberculous measures which are now in force. Perhaps paramount amongst these measures are the arrangements for testing uninfected contacts and children relative to susceptibility to tuberculosis. The susceptible ones being further vaccinated with B.C.G. in order to increase their resistance to tuberculosis. This work is done in close co-operation with the Health Service. A dis¬ turbing factor about the health of the residents of Northampton is that carcinoma of the lung is now about twice as prevalent amongst the new patients as pulmonary tuberculosis. Chest Clinic. Details of the sessions held at the Chest Clinic are given on pages 21 and 22. The following relates to some of the anti-tuberculosis work during 1960 :— Consultations . 6,275 New out-patients . 4,333 Number of contacts of new cases examined . 231 Contacts examined of patients previously notified . 767 Family contacts examined of Mantoux positive children found at school ....... 559 Mantoux tests . 550 X-ray examinations: Radiographic film . 6,946 Fluorographic screen . 16 Pathological specimens . 1,953 Home visits: By health visitors . 64 By medical staff . 98 Total number of attendances by patients. 9,278 Notifications. (Tables 12 to 15, pages 53 to 55). During the year. 38 persons were notified for the first time as suffering from tuberculosis. Of these, 31 cases were respiratory and 7 non-respiratory. Their age groups and classification are shewn in Tables 13 and 14. In addition, 12 cases already notified in other areas came into the County Borough. Table 15 gives the occupations of new cases of respiratory tuberculosis.