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62
This total falls 43 short of the total number of cases owing to patients living in boarding
houses, private hotels and large private residences not being included.

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 his appointment, second and third visits are
paid for the same purpose, when, if of no avail, the case is dropped for the time being.
Examination and Systematic Supervision of Home Contacts.
There were 667 contacts traced by the dispensary service in 1933. Of these, 418 were
examined one or more times by the tuberculosis officer, 70 were examined by their own doctors
or had been recently examined at school, while 129 refused examination or failed to attend after
three appointments had been given them.
There were 50 cases having no contacts—mainly domestic servants. These figures show an
encouraging increase in the number of contacts seen at the dispensary despite the marked reduction
in the number of notified cases.
The endeavour to secure a second and subsequent examinations 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 in 1927 as dental officer,
continued to act in this capacity during 1933.

Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
In recent years there has been a growing tendency for artificial pneumothorax to be prescribed
by sanatorium doctors as a routine measure in the early stages of the disease, and in 1933 the council
undertook to pay for the treatment in 32 cases at a cost of £182 14s. The corresponding figures
for 1932 were 25 and £165 18s. 6d.

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