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55
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The total number of visits made was 1,655 in cases 01
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, 256 in Clapham, 119 in Putney, 477 in
Streatham, 293 in Tooting, and 510 in Wandsworth, and 467 in
cases of other forms of Tuberculosis, 43 in Clapham, 17 in Putney,
141 in Streatham, 80 in Tooting, and 186 in Wandsworth. In
addition to these visits by the Health Visitor, 1,667 visits were
made by the Dispensary Nurses, these visits being made by the
instruction of the Tuberculosis Officer to cases under his care at the
Dispensary.
During the year 13 sputum flasks have been supplied, and
in 12 of the cases visited the patients already had one.
During the year disinfection was carried out at 390 premises
either after the death or removal of the patient. 80 of the premises
disinfected were in Clapham,(31 in Putney,'101 in Streatham, 67 in
Tooting, and ill in Wandsworth.
Tuberculosis Dispensaries.
There has been a large increase in the number of patients seen
at the Dispensaries, and, both in numbers of new cases and
attendances, the figures are higher than in any of the previous five
years during which the Dispensaries have been open. The number
of new cases examined was 1,342, compared with 1,214, 1,081,
716, 971, and 936 for the previous five years. The attendances
numbered 17,418, nearly 5,000 more than the 12,755 of 1917,
and over three times as many as the 5,502 of 1913.
Owing to the increased work thrown on the Dispensary Staflt,
a second Nurse was appointed in September. Both the Nurses
are continually visiting patients at their homes, impressing on
those suffering from the disease the importance of making their
home-lives as hygienic as possible. It is found that a great deal
of good is done by these visits, the patients appreciate them greatly,
and their lives are undoubtedly made brighter by the help and
advice they are given. Too much stress cannot be laid on the
importance of this branch of the work. Further, in the course of
visiting, the Nurses are able to persuade those patients whose
attendances have fallen off to continue with their treatment,
as well as to suggest to contacts that they should be examined.