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The Following-up of Patients in Cases of Doubtful Diagnosis.
Patients often do not realise the importance of allowing the Tuberculosis Officer to complete
his diagnosis.
When a " suspect" has failed to keep an appointment, he is visited at home by a Woman Health
Officer, who gives him a definite appointment with the Tuberculosis Officer at the Dispensary so
that he will not be kept waiting. If he fails to keep this appointment, second and third visits are
paid for the same purpose, when, if of no avail, the case is dropped for the time being.
During the year there were 132 " suspect " cases. Of these, 11 were finally discovered to be
suffering from respiratory and 3 from non-respiratory tuberculosis, and there were 10 still on the
books at the end of the year. The remaining 108 were finally discharged as non-tubercular.
Examination and Systematic Supervision of Home Contacts.
There were 638 contacts traced by the Dispensary Service in 1929. Of these, 356 were
examined one or more times by the Tuberculosis Officer, 127 were examined by their own doctors
or had been recently examined at school, while 155 refused examination or failed to attend after
three appointments had been given them.
The endeavour to secure a second examination of the " home contacts " of infectious cases
after approximately one year's interval, especially young adult cases whose age renders them more
vulnerable, has been continued. These examinations are not included in the above totals.
Dental Treatment of Tuberculous Persons.
Mr. A. Dreaper, l.d.s. (r.c.s.), who was appointed by the Council on the 27th September,
1927, as Dental Officer, continued to act in this capacity during 1929.

Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
During the year the Council undertook to pay for artificial pneumothorax treatment in four
oases and the payments amounted to £15 3s. Od.

The Nurses carry out their work splendidly and are very much appreciated by the poor.