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49
Debilitated and weakly children who attend the Dispensary
but are not definitely found to be tuberculous are in many cases,
through the agency of the Invalid Children's Aid Association, sent
to Convalescent Homes. On return they again attend the Dispensary
for examination, when it is usually found that great improvement
in health and physique has been effected. The results
obtained by the change in environment is, in most cases, so marked
as to emphasise the importance of dealing in this manner with all
cases of debility in children following the common infectious
diseases, e.g., measles, whooping-cough, scarlet fever, respiratory
and gastro-intestinal disease, which so commonly predispose to
subsequent infection by the tubercle bacillus.
The Dental Clinic for tuberculous patients continues to serve
a very useful need. Advice, extractions and fillings, &c., are provided
free, and assistance towards the cost of dentures in the case of
necessitous patients is obtained through various agencies. Patients
readily attend for treatment when so advised by the Tuberculosis
Officer.
Co-operation with the School Medical Service continues to be
carried out on lines described in previous Annual Reports and with
useful results.
During the year 1924 there were 594 new patients who attended
the Dispensary. Of these, 189 were found to be suffering from
Tuberculosis and 148 were regarded as "suspect" cases. The
remaining 257 cases were not considered tuberculous.
Of the 189 definite cases 47 were children and 142 were adults.
Of the adult patients 106 were insured and 36 uninsured. There
were 35 ex-service men amongst the tuberculous cases, or 6 less
than in the previous year.
During the year 271 "contacts" were examined—adults 69,
children 202. Much more difficulty is experienced in getting the
adult "contacts" to attend the Dispensary than is the case with the
children. The latter are referred for observation to the School
Medical Officer.
During the year 17 patients in whom the diagnosis was at first
doubtful were definitely found to be suffering from tuberculosis,
and these, added to the 189 new cases, make a total of 206 notified
cases. Of this number 85 had already been notified to the Medical
Officer of Health, so that 121 were primary notifications from the
Dispensary.
The total number of attendances at the Dispensary during the
year was 4,389—by insured persons 1,729, by non-insured 2,660.
Insured persons attend the Dispensary periodically for observation,
but only in exceptional circumstances is treatment given to
this class of patient.