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The Work of the Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The aims of the Tuberculosis Dispensary were outlined
in the 1922 Report. One point should be emphasised again.
Close co-operation with the local medical practitioners is
the most important element in our organisation. During
1923 medical men sent 698 new patients for diagnosis or
consultation, as compared with 607 in 1922 and 602 in 1921.
Further, they sent for renewed consultation about 100
patients who had attended in previous years. The function
of the Dispensary as a centre of diagnosis may be noticed
further. The total number of new patients in 1923 was
1,904, as compared with 1,817 in 1922. In addition, 86
patients were under observation on 1st January, 1923, pending
diagnosis. Of a total of 1,990 examined for diagnosis 409
were found to have active tuberculosis, 1,498 were discharged
as not tuberculous, 39 ceased attendance before completion
of diagnosis, and 44 remained under observation on 31st
December pending diagnosis.
Summary of the Work of the Tuberculosis Dispensary in 1923.
Number of new patients examined
1,904
Number of old patients examined
1,638
Number of new patients sent by medical men for consultation
698
Number of old patients sent by medical men for consultation about
700
Total attendances of patients at the Dispensary
10,716
Number of new contacts examined
831
Number of patients referred to hospital for consultation
197
Number of specimens of sputum examined in connection with
the work of the Dispensary
1,925
Number of Home visits paid by Tuberculosis Officers
1,103
Number of Home visits paid by Nurses
5,914
The Care Work of the Dispensary.
The aim is constructive work—i.e., an attempt to
preserve or to improve the social and economic position of
every family affected by tuberculosis. Items of assistance,
such as food, money, sanatorium treatment, etc., cannot
attain to even a moderate measure of success as long as the
family standard of living remains below that compatible with
health, or if a standard, normal at the onset of tuberculosis,
is allowed to pass step by step to lower levels. Housing,
employment, and education enter largely into this matter.
Until housing and employment are brought nearer a normal
level we cannot expect to carry out a large constructive
policy in Care work, although we may accomplish much
in lesser ways. Under employment reference is made not
so much to the employment of the consumptive as to the
employment of any members of his family who may be out