THE WHITE PLAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19019, 15 November 1923, Page 7

THE WHITE PLAGUE

INCIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA. MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, November 14. (Received Nov. 14, at 9.20 p.m.) At the Medical Congress, in discussing consumption, Dr Cumpston said that the mortality in Australia had increased among children under five years, but it had decreased from five to 14 years. The highest mortality among women was between the ages of 25 and 27 and among men between 45 and 49. In men tha mortality remained high till 65. Dr Penfold (Director of the Commonwealth Serum .Laboratory) said that of post mortems made of all persons in the various States of the commonwealth tuberculosis was found in 25 per cent, of the adult males and in 22 per cent, of, the adult females. The most susceptible periods were between the ages of 11 and 20 and 41 and 50. Regarding tuberculosis in dairy herds, it was found that nearly 17 per cent, of those supplying milk for human consumption were infected. At the abbatoirs between 4 and 7 per cent, of the cattle slaughtered and 3 to 10 per cent, of the pigs were infected.