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4. Inquire as to the existence of suspicious cases of tuberculosis
amongst non-resident relatives and friends, and to put
them in the way of obtaining treatment and adopting preventive
measures.
5. Discover and, if possible, remove the source of infection
if still existing, or at least to endeavour to lessen the risk of
infection for other members of the family.
6. Examine and treat all patients confined to bed, and those
unable or unwilling to attend at the dispensary.
The Medical Officer of the dispensary reports all insanitary
matters requiring amendment and discovered during his visits,
to the Public Health Department, notifies the patient's new
address on removal, and arranges for the disinfection of the
vacated tenement.
The Nurse visits the patient's home after his first attendance
at the dispensary for the following purposes:—
1. To rectify, as far as possible, any faulty or insanitary
conditions prevailing in the homes. If necessary, these are
reported to the Public Health Department for its co-operation.
2. To gain the confidence and good-will of the patients, and
to show them and their relatives how the doctor's wishes as to
fresh air, open windows, sleeping accommodation, disposal of
sputum, diet, clothing, table utensils, disinfection and home
isolation may be most simply carried out. For example, patients
who live in dark basements are advised to move into the light
upper stories.
3. To collect for examination from time to time specimens
of the patient's early morning sputum, and to teach the patient
how to use the clinical thermometer.
4. To collect information as to the social, economic and
hygienic surroundings of the patients, for future reference by the
Dispensary Medical Officer and for statistical purposes.
No actual nursing is done by the dispensary nurse—this is left
to nursing associations, to church nurses and to nurses supplied