Prevalence of Hemophilia in Ontario, 1966

Records of admission to general hospitals throughout Ontario over a six-month period, together with an independently existing list of hemophiliacs known to the Canadian Haemophilia Society, furnish the basis for a statistical estimate of the prevalence of hemophilia in 1966. This is set at 1.44 or more per 10,000 males at birth. It is inferred from age-specific data that the prevalence among the general population may be rising beyond its present level of about 1 per 10,000 living males.     

Novel cases of blastomycosis acquired in Toronto, Ontario

Blastomycosis, a potentially fatal fungal disease, is well known from defined areas of endemicity in Ontario, primarily in the northern part of the province. We present 2 unusual cases that appear to extend the area of endemicity into urban southern Ontario, specifically Toronto. Both patients presented to a dermatology clinic with skin lesions. Chest radiography, history and general physical evaluation indicated no disease at other body sites. Both cases appeared to represent “inoculation blastomycosis” connected with minor gardening injuries and a cat scratch respectively. Atypical dissemination could not be completely excluded in either case. Neither patient had travelled recently to a known area of high endemicity for blastomycosis, nor had the cat that was involved in one of the cases. Physicians must become aware that blastomycosis may mimic other diseases, including dermal infections, and may occur in patients whose travel histories would not normally suggest this infection.     

A Statistical Survey of Leukemia in Ontario and at the Ontario Cancer Foundation Clinics, 1938-1958

In Ontario, leukemia causes about 4% of all cancer deaths, ranging from nearly 50% at under 5 years of age to 1-3% at age 50 and over. Age-specific death rates are highest among older people; at all ages, male deaths exceed female deaths. Only about 20% of all leukemia patients in Ontario are registered at Ontario Cancer Clinics; the proportion changed sharply with the advent of chemotherapy. For 1258 patients registered in 1938-1963, the crude one-year survival rate was 50%, ranging from 9% for acute leukemia to about 60% for non-acute lymphatic and myeloid leukemia. The long-term outlook was much better for non-acute lymphatic leukemia than for non-acute myeloid leukemia. For acute leukemia, the treatment of choice was chemotherapy; for non-acute lymphatic leukemia, radiotherapy was used, followed, if required, by chemotherapy or further radiotherapy. For non-acute myeloid leukemia, the advantage of chemotherapy over radiotherapy was not established.     

Occupational Dermatoses in Ontario, 1955 to 1962

In Ontario in 1962, with a compensationeligible labour force of 1,814,000, 10 out of each 1000 workers received compensation for some occupational dermatosis, as defined here; 36 out of each 1000 workers received compensation for some cause. Contact dermatitides made up 5042 of 7448 cases of occupational disease for which compensation and/or medical aid was paid in 1955 and 1956. In eight years, 1955 to 1962 (inclusive), of a total of 534,557 “compensation only” cases, 7023 received payment for contact dermatitis. The average yearly cost of compensation of a worker with a contact dermatitis was estimated at $1113; the annual total cost, at $900,000. The average cost of an occupational dermatosis was $368; the annual total cost, $10 million. Occupational dermatoses account for almost one-third of all compensation costs. The cost of “medical aid only” is excluded from all of these estimates. In contact dermatitis, primary irritants (chemicals) are still the main causative agents. Skin sensitizers, the epoxy resins particularly, have become more prominent in recent years. There is no all-purpose barrier cream or protective clothing. Proper personal hygiene remains the most effective preventive agent in industry.