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49
That a greater effort is now being made to detect early
cases is also shown in the increase in the number of
sputum samples examined; 1,665 sputum examinations
were made in 1924 against 1616 in 1923.
The facilities available for X.ray examination at
Brompton Hospital are also being taken advantage of,
and during the year 22 X-ray reports and skiagrams
were received from Dr. Melville.
In comparing the figures with those of 1923 it is
seen that the number of new dispensary patients was
682 against 627 in 1923. The total number of cases
notified by the Dispensary in 1924 was five more than
during the previous year.
The nurses made 4,775 home visits during 1924
against 4,603 during 1923.
An endeavour has been made for some years to
discharge patients not suffering from tuberculosis, as
soon as a definite diagnosis has been made, in order to
be able to devote more attention to the cases actually
suffering from the disease. The total number of
attendances has therefore fallen, although the number
of physical examinations made has remained about the
same during the past few years. In 1924, however,
the number of physical examinations made was actually
greater than during the previous year.
During the year 364 contacts were examined, compared
with 351 during 1923. Many of the contacts
were kept under observation for a time before a definite
decision was made as to whether they were free from
tuberculosis or not; in all 407 attendances of contacts
were recorded.
According to the instructions of the Ministry of
Health cases can now be removed from the tuberculosis
register when the disease has been arrested for five
years in the case of pulmonary tuberculosis and three
years in non-pulmonary tuberculosis. These regulations
will have the two-fold effect of freeing the tuberculosis
staff from a good deal of unnecessary work and
will also obviate irritation on the part of the patients.