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44
The Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on
Tuberculosis states that "In a general way the efficiency of the
Tuberculosis Dispensary should be to serve as
(1) Receiving House and Centre of Diagnosis ;
(2) Clearing House and Centre of Observation;
(3) Centre for Curative Treatment ;
(4) Centre for the examination of Contacts;
(5) Centre for "after-care " ;
(6) Information Bureau and Educational Centre.
The reports of the medical officers of the dispensaries show
the increasing extent to which the dispensaries are carrying out
the first three functions, and as regards the examination of contacts
the following figures show the number of these examinations;
moreover there is evidence that the percentage examined is steadily
increasing.
During 1920, 549 primary cases were notified, and the contacts
to these cases number in all 1,667 persons, and of these 566 contacts
were examined making the number examined slightly over 33 per
cent. As one must bear in mind that adult contacts generally
refuse examination unless in ill-health, under the circumstances
already recorded, this percentage is very fair.
During the year 1920, 249 deaths were registered—199 pulmonary
and 50 non-pulmonary; but of these 33 pulmonary and
18 non-pulmonary were not originally notified under the regulations
and enquiries as to contacts could not be made in these cases; this,
however, is a matter requiring, and receiving, attention.
Of the remaining 166 pulmonary deaths, there were 467
contacts of which 262 were examined, representing 56 per cent.
examined; and of the 32 non-pulmonary deaths there were 87
contacts of which 39 were examined, representing 44 per cent.
examined.