MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 283, 15 November 1923, Page 5

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

THE CONSUMPTION SCOURGE.

MORTALITY AND INFECTION.

Sydney, Nov. 14.

At the Medical Congress, discussing consumption, Dr Cumpston said mortality in Australia had increased among children under five years, but had decreased from five to fourteen years. The highest mortality among women was between the ages of 25 and 27, and mon between 45 and 49. In men mortality remained high till 65. Dr Penfold, director, of the Commonwealth serum laboratory, said that of examination made in the various States of the Commonwealth tuberculosis was found in 25 per cenF of adult males and 22 per cent of adult females. The most susceptible periods were between the ags of 11 and 20 and 41 and 50. Regarding tuberculoses in dairy herds, he found that nearly 17 per cent of those supplying milk for human consumption were infected. At abattoirs between four and seven per cent of cattle slaughtered, and three to ten per cent of pigs were infected. Dr. Smith’s report embodying some of the findings of the technical commission of inquiry at Broken Hill was read. It stated that over 8000 mine workers were examined, and it had been determined that dust from the mine gave rise to an alteration in the lungs of minors, although this alteration was not in itself a direct cause of illness. The change was in the nature of a scarring. It was found that 4G per cent of the men in whom it occurred were also infected with tuberculosis. Of the men whose lungs were not affected by dust only two per cent were infected with tuberculosis.