The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-02
Decline In Tuberculosis Noted Here During 1943
Statistics Released By Health Officer Dr. Edward J.
 Godfrey Show Encouraging Improvement

Contrary to precedent which has always held fast the fact that dur ing times of war or economic stress tuberculosis has increased, the situa- ton in Waterbury has reversed re- sulting in decrease from 105 cases in 1942 to 89 in 1943 according to the latter year fiscal health report submitted by city health officer, Dr. E. J. Godfrey.
 There were twelve less deaths in 1943 than in the previous year when 50 occurred. It has usually been the fact that during difficult times the increase of tuberculosis has er- suited from overcrowded conditions, dietary, deficiencies, changing pop ulations and the strain and long hours of work that war-workers are subjected to.
 Thirty -four of the 89 cases re- corded were reported by the Anti Tuberculosis league. thirty-two by state sanatoria, fifteen by private physicians an deight by hospitals.
 In his report Dr. Godfrey cites the new federal law allocating. to states, funds for tuberculosis con- trol for communities. Dr. Godfrey expressed the hope that the city might soon benefit in full from these allocations.
 Fe states:
 we would like to share in this extensive program but certain re- quirements make 1t necessary for us to seek a temporary set-up. We hope to have the use of mobile X-ray unit until such time as the present day lack of physicians, nurses and other trained tuber- culosis control personnel may be remedied. I have frequently rec- commended that a more comprehen- sive program for the control of tuberculosis be developed as a di- vision of the health department. Even though cooperation exists among the various agencies doing tuberculosis work in this city the responsibility should rest with the health department. Particularly do we lack essential clinic services. If these obstacles were obliterated and 8 reorganization of our pro- gram undertaken we could look for ward to securing portion of this federal grant, if the gigantic un- dertaking did not prove to be a limited one, the money to be used for the development of more effec- tive means of prevention, treatment and control of tuberculosis"
 To substantiate his eagerness to fit into the federal program the city health officer cites again the fact that during wartimeS and times of stress tuberculosis incidence and mortality can increase and without proper precaution another world wide spread of TB can occur.
 There were IFS contacts of the new cases examined at the ATL clinic. ! The number of cases entering Sana- toria was 73; eleven were reported after death; four declined hospital care. suitable provisions having been made for home care and one patient left the city. During the year SAT X-rays were taken. The number of days of hospital care given to resident tuberculosis patients total ed 34,S42.
 The Anti Tuberculosis league did 95 tuberculin tests.
 Tuberculosis case finding program by the health department was again carried out, the work being limited to the high schools. The following is a summation of this work:
 Freshmen Give high Schools) {: Patch tested 1,068. reactors (posi- tive 6S, X-rayed: negative 67, re- activated tuberculosis 1; total X-ray- ed 68; by own doctor 26, health department 35, ATL 5. uncooperative 3.
 Seniors (to be X-rayed ST; seniors x-ray 54 Gall negative), by own doctor 2. health department 46. ATL 1: uncooperative 8; left school to enter U. S. service '; home visits on reactors 26
 Summation of work by department nurse: On routine tuberculosis cases (patients and contacts), 90 new cases visited, 31 revisits; home visits on children patch tested: 42 new cases visited, g revlsits; visits to chil- dren re-X-rayed: IS new cases wis., Ited. 34 revisits; patch testing at high schools: conferences: Anti. Tuberculosis league physicians; let- ters for x-rays and X-ray ap- 1nA