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VII.—CONSULTATION AND OTHER
CLINICS.
X-RAY DEPARTMENT.
During the year 1938 there has been a marked increase in the
work of the X-ray Department.
The total number of films taken was 2,682, nearly 1,000 more
than in 1937.
The total number of screen examinations was 1,490, 262 more
than in 1937.
The total number of patients examined was 1,287, 261 more
than in 1937. The number of attendances made by these patients
was 1,610.
Thirty more chest cases were examined, but the increase in
the number of patients was mainly due to the greater use of the
department by the general practitioners in the borough. There
have been twice as many bone cases, and four times as many
examinations of the gastro-intestinal tract.
It is very satisfactory to be able to record this increase in the
number of patients sent by general practitioners. It seems to
indicate that they are finding the department to be of real assistance
to them in their work.
The appointment system is working well and is much appreciated
by the patients.
POST-INFECTIOUS DISEASE CLINIC.
During the past year 161 cases were seen for the first time at
this clinic, many of whom were seen again, and occasionally more
than once, so that 327 examinations were made in all. 109 of these
were found to be suffering from some established defect, so that
it was necessary to determine whether that defect was due to
recent illness or to some previous ill-health, and this diagnosis
could only be made after several examinations. In some cases
the final diagnosis was helped by special investigations, such as
X-rays or by reference to a special department of a hospital. As