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34
A very satisfactory point to note is the increasing number of
patients sent by general practitioners, hospitals, etc. Apart from
the nurses, the greater number of patients came from these sources.
Contacts.—The search for Contacts is still vigorously continued
by the Dispensary staff, and again I would draw attention to the
excellent work of the nurses in inducing such a large proportion of
Contacts to submit to examination—a very difficult matter in many
instances. Of Contacts examined 48 were found Tuberculous and
placed under treatment.

Out of a total of 713 Contacts, no fewer than 460 were examined
or including re-examinations, 578 giving 81 per cent., the highest
recorded since the Dispensary was opened, and a high compliment
to all the nurses concerned. With this excellent result it is a matter
for extreme regret that in view of their 25 per cent. contribution to
the cost of the Dispensary scheme, the London County Council is
pressing for a reduction of the nursing staff. The high per centage
of Contacts examined is entirely due to the constant visiting and
supervision of the four nurses appointed by the Borough Council
with the full approval of the Ministry of Health. Now that the
work of prevention is well in hand it is surely mistaken economy to
curtail in any way the only means whereby Contacts can be thoroughly
searched out and induced to present themselves for examination.
Reckless economy is as much to be condemned as
reckless expenditure.
The work of the Dispensary is shown in the Statistical Table,
and explains itself. From the table it will be observed that 154
patients were diagnosed at the Dispensary as suffering from
Pulmonary Tuberculosis and 34 from Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis.