Abstract
A follow-up study was made on 577 TB cases who had been under occupational care therapy and discharged from the National Sanatorium Muramatsu Seiranso during the period of 1939 to 1953.
Co-relation between the post-discharge physical status and occupational status and predischarge physical status was analyzed. Results were as follows:
1) Cut of 577 cases studied, 58 (10.1%) died from tuberculosis
2) The rest of the cases were currently engaged in a variety of occupations, such as farming, office and clerical jobs, retail business, and x-ray and laboratory technicians.
3) Among the vocational trainings, x-ray technique and laboratory technique were chosen by many patients after their discharge from the sanatorium. Although at the time of their discharge they were not always minimal cases, their mortality rate was considerably low. It is considered that these occupations are suitable for the ex-patients, because they may be under constant medical supervision.
4) Relapse rate of ex-patients who took agricultural works was not so high. Agricultural works may be well tolerated by patients with minimal lesions or thcse who had sufficient ventilatory reserve after thoracoplasty treatment.
5) It was generally recognized in all works that relapse was related to the pre-discharge physical status. Therefore, effective therapy must be instituted before discharge from sanatorium or hospital.
