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Examination of Home Contacts.
Tuberculosis claims its victims in early manhood and womanhood.
The source of infection of a patient, apart from the consumption
of tuberculous milk, is by contact with a person suffering
from active pulmonary tuberculosis. It is difficult to persuade
contacts, especially young adults, to submit to periodical examination.
They do not realise how important it is to detect the disease
in its early stages for a cure to be effected or to arrest the disease.
Education is, however, playing its part and the public is gradually
beginning to realise the value of contact examination. With children
it is possible in certain cases to arrange for their boarding out under
the London County Council scheme thus removing them from the
infectious atmosphere at home. Sixteen children were so
boarded out in 1938.
The number of persons living in contact with tuberculous
patients which came to the notice of the department for the first
time during 1938 was 940. Of this number 429 were examined at
or in connection with the Tuberculosis Dispensary during the
year, and in 7 of these cases definite tuberculosis was found. In
2 cases the diagnosis was not completed at December 31st, 1938.
Mantoux diagnostic tests were done in 93 cases, and during
the year use of the Vollmer patch tuberculin test was commenced.
It is proposed to use this diagnostic test in all cases of children who
are between the ages of 1 year to 5 years.
Information as to Special Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment
in Use and the Number of Persons to whom these
Special Methods have been Applied.
By experience it has been found that X-rays and repeated
sputum examination are essential for accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis
in its early stage, and throughout the year more and more
use was made of the facilities available at St. Giles' Hospital. During
the year a total number of 1,260 patients were examined by X-ray,
including all contacts who attended the dispensary for examination.
In view of the ease with which early tuberculous disease can be
discovered by means of X-ray, it is now considered essential that
all contacts should have the advantage of such examination, thus
assisting the Tuberculosis Officer to discover disease at a stage
when no other evidence is available. X-ray examinations are also
carried out on patients from time to time as a means of observing
their progress, and in cases of artificial pneumothorax treatment
as a means of control.
Artificial pneumothorax treatment is available for suitable
dispensary cases and may be carried out while the patient is in a