§ Lieut.-Colonel RAWasked the Minister of Health whether the exposure and hard- 2054W ships to which large numbers of healthy men were subjected to on active service has resulted in an increase in the mortality from tuberculosis?
§ Dr. ADDISONAlthough the conditions of active service no doubt increased the mortality from tuberculosis in weakly men and in those already suffering from tuberculosis, I am advised that there is no evidence to show that there has been any increase in mortality from this disease among men who were healthy on entering upon naval or military service. I am glad to say that the latest statistics indicate that there was in 1919 a very large decrease in the number of deaths from tuberculosis in England and Wales, including both pulmonary and non-pulmonary forms; the figures for 1919 being 46,312 as compared with 58,073 in 1918 and 55,934 in 1917. I am glad also to be able to say that the figures for 1920, so far as they are at present available, indicate another decrease.