Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1938, Page 197

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abdominal tuberculosis 4 (3), tuberculosis of the urinary and genei’a-
tive organs 6 (6), other organs 0 (1).
In 1930 tlie number of deaths from tuberculosis reached the
maxinium of 232, but in 1933 it dropped suddenly from 220 the year
I)efore to 173. This progress has been maintained since. In 1938 only
106 deaths from tuberculosis occurred or less than half the number
six years before and fewer than at any time since the number of deaths
Irom tuberculosis were first reported separatly (1911). This decline in
Ihe incidence of tuberculosis infection may doubtless partly be traced
to the fact, that more effective methods than before are now being
used for combating this disease. Formerly preventive measures were
chiefly confined to isolating tuberculous patients in hospitals or
sunatoria and since 1921 free residential treatment in such institu-
Hons has been secured when necessary. But since the appointment in
1935 of a special Chief Tuberculosis Officer, more energetic steps
bave been taken to find out tuberculous patients and detect bacilli-
carriers by means of comprehensive tuberculin-iests and X-ray mass-
cvaminations, for which purpose special Health Centres have been
established in various towns. Thus it has gradually become the chief
°bject of the Tuberculosis Service to prevent the infection of per-
s°ns still healthy, without, however, slackening the care of those
already infected, who, owing to these efforts receive medical advice
;,nd facilities for treatment in an earlier stage of the disease than
otherwise would have been the case, besides that more effective met-
bods of treatment are being used now than before. The Tuberculosis
Ib'evention Act has now (1940) been revised and conformed to the
Pi'esent scheme of the Tuberculosis Service and to the future develop-
nient of this scheme.
7. Leprosy. The number of patients has been almost constantly de-
Cl'easing in previous years, this year being the lowest on record.
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938
1 atients in the Leprosarium
at Laugarnes ................ 27 24 21 19 19 22 19 18 18 17
l^atients Outside Hospital ..... 11 11 10 8 8 9 7 7 6 5
I°tal number of Patients ....... 38 35 31 27 27 31 26 25 24 22
8. Hijdntid diseasc (cf. tables V—VII).
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938
Nuniber of Patients ............ 30 12 11 10 15 16 6 11 7 8
°eaths .......................... 8 6 11 6 6 4 3 3 5 7
These figures are based upon monthly reports from phycicians, but
;n the annual report on hydatid desease, which comprises all medical
'bstricts in this country except one, 24 cases are notified.
b. Cancer (cf. tables V and VII).
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938
Nuxnber of Patients .............. 85 92 66 71 103 87 73 82 68 73
‘k'aths ......................... 145 106 120 133 125 141 147 140 156 141