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POST-NATAL AND SPECIAL CLINICS FOR WOMEN.
During the year the total number of attendances was 401. The
number of new patients was 150, the majority of whom were suffering
from minor disabilities of the menopause for which help could be
given at the Clinic; where further treatment was indicated, the
patients were either referred to their own doctor or to hospital.
Twenty of the new patients were referred to hospital for operation.
There were six cases of carcinoma, and of these three were in an early
stage of the disease.
HEART CLINK.
Although the original and primary function of the Tuberculosis
Dispensary is the discovery and supervision of cases of tuberculosis it
has been the custom for the Tuberculosis Officer to submit to general
practitioners as full a report as possible on cases of other disease
which may come to light during the process of investigation. In
many instances this has been of considerable assistance to the practitioners
of the district.
It is not unusual to find some abnormality of the heart during
the investigation of disease in the chest —indeed the heart and itsmajor blood vessels hold an important place in the anatomy and
physiology of the chest, and it became apparent that a better clinical
service could be provided if facilities were also available for the
investigation of cardiac disease. In 1939 therefore, the Council
decided to establish a Heart Clinic. Postgraduate facilities were
provided for Dr. Toussaint at that time, and since, and an electrocardiogram
was purchased. The object of this clinic is the diagnosis
and periodic supervision of patients suffering from cardiac disease.
It has already proved its worth and has helped in the discovery of
cases of heart trouble which in previous times might well have been
missed. As in other illnesses the essence of success in cardiology is
early detection of abnormality and the prevention of further damage.
In later years if heart failure supervenes on some pre-existing condition
the whole outlook depends on regular treatment and supervision.
Both these objects can now be attained and practitioners are gradually