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109
Co-operation with Medical Practitioners.
596 new patients were sent by practitioners to the Dispensary
for diagnosis or seen in consultation at their homes.
Classification of New Patients.
(a) Pulmonary Tuberculosis. During 1935, 235 patients who
attended the Dispensary for the first time and were found to be
suffering from tuberculosis were reported by the Tuberculosis
Officer to be in the undermentioned stages of the disease at the
time of diagnosis:—
T.B. minus (sputum negative or absent) 89, or 37.9 per cent.
T.B. plus 1 (early cases, sputum positive) 17, or 7.2 per cent.
T.B. plus 2 (intermediate cases, sputum positive) 106, or 45.1 per cent.
T.B. plus 3 (advanced cases, sputum positive) 23, or 9.8 per cent.
(b) Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis. There were 34 cases of
non-pulmonary tuberculosis in the following forms: —
Bones and joints.
Peripheral glands.
Abdomen.
Skin.
Other organs.
The Necessity for Early Treatment to Ensure the Prospects
of Recovery.
Under the L.C.C. Residential Institutional Scheme patients
suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis are, as a rule, sent away
within two weeks of application. Children suffering from tuberculosis
of joints are, if possible, sent away the day the diagnosis
is made.
Information as to Special Methods of Diagnosis and
Treatment in Use and the Number of Persons to whom these
Special Methods have been Applied.
We have placed chief reliance on accurate history taking, careful
reading of symptoms, temperature charting and pulse study,
physical examination and repeated sputum testing in tubercle
negative cases. When the above methods are not neglected in the
diagnosis of a case the use of X-rays is of the highest value. Special
arrangements exist with King's College Hospital for X-ray
examination of dispensary patients. During 1935, 756 patients
were sent to King's College Hospital for X-ray examination. All
our patients while under Residential treatment were X-rayed on
various occasions. The same applies to A.P. cases.
Artificial pneumothorax treatment is available for suitable
dispensary cases and may be carried out while the patient is in a
residential institution or later while on home treatment. By
arrangement artificial pneumothorax treatment can be given at the
following hospitals to patients who are on general treatment at