Abstract
Tuberculous patients are, as a rule, availably treated on account of public expenditure, according to the Tuberculosis Protection Law. Usually the medical disposition is decided by the Tuberculosis Committee Council at the respective district Health Center, although that is proposed by physicians. The author has attended the meeting at “Mutsu” Health Center and has fortunately had chances of inspecting the chest X-ray findings of tuberculous patients in Shimokita Peninsula from Jan., 1958 through Dec., 1963.
The author classified these findings by means of N. T. A. (National Tuberculosis Association) -method and of W. H. O. classification. These results are compared in 8 districts, (one city and 7 towns and villages), and also in 3 kinds of medical facilities, namely G. P. D., provincial hospitals and national sanatoriums. Then, calculating the percentage of far advanced cases, owing to the N. T. A. classification and that of cavity existence and the mean value of W. H. O. method in each year and in each district.
1. In relatively rural parts of the peninsula, directly facing to Pacific Ocean and to “Tsugaru” Strait, the percentage of F. A. cases was numerous at around 1958, but decreased year by year recently. It is probably suggested that medical knowledge about tuberculosisand social security countermeasures have been populized into the inhabitants of this county. Such a matter can be demonstrated in the results of cavity existence and of W. H. O. -classification.
2. As for the kinds of medical facilities, the advanced cases have been mostly admitted in national sanatoriums. Here, the percentage of F. A. cases is twice as much as G. P. D.. This trend has had no change during past 6 years, but the case seriousnes in provincial hospitals has always been between the former two.
