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such persons having been seen in the year and 198 given active
treatment. The majority of these were children and, since the
problems of tuberculosis in children are of vital importance, the
statistics relating to children have been separated out from the
general mass and appear in detail in Tables T 4, T 15. It
is as yet too early to express any definite opinion on the results
of treatment, but as far as it is possible to judge, the proportion of
return of a reasonable degree of working capacity amongst those
treated has been satisfactorily high, and the Tables (Nos. T 9,
T 10, T. 13) setting forth the further progress of persons treated
in 1913 shew that a large number have been able to remain at work
throughout the year.
In estimating progress and results of treatment ability for
work has been regarded as the main criterion since amongst the
class of persons dealt with it is most important that they should be
restored, as far as possible, to an earning capacity. The work
done naturally varies considerably, but every effort is made to
secure healthy occupations, and in a large number of cases occupations
unsuitable for tuberculous persons have been given up and a
comparatively open-air life adopted.
A chief aim of the Dispensary has been to keep in touch with
all persons who have come in contact with it. After a patient
returns from a sanatorium or hospital he or she is urged to attend
regularly at the .Dispensary for supervision, however apparently
cured they may be. Every method possible (visits from the health
visitors or the Medical Officer; personal letters from the Medical
Officer, &c.) is used to ensure that every known tuberculous person
in the Borough who has been seen by the Medical Officer is thereafter
given every opportunity to receive advice and treatment
whenever such is required, and that at all times a general supervision
is exercised over those who have received treatment and
have returned to work. In spite of obvious difficulties in carrying
out this idea it has in the majority of cases been successfully
attained, and it is satisfactory to record that, with but few exceptions,
old patients return to the Dispensary for advice in the
regulation of their habits of life. A large number of persons have
been seen as "contacts " (vide table T 5). Many of these have
proved suspicious, and they, together with similar doubtful cases
seen apart from contact work, have been kept under careful supervision.
They report themselves every few months for re-examination
so long as any suspicion of tuberculosis remains, and in this
way there is no doubt that many cases are detected in the earliest
and most hopeful stage, and much useful advice can be given to
prevent those persons peculiarly susceptible to tuberculosis from
developing the disease.