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54
dentures are referred to the Clinic by the Tuberculosis Medical
Officer. The number of sessions held during 1929 was 49, and 311
attendances were made, the average attendance per session being
6-35. The cost to the Council for this service was £141 16s. 6d., less
contributions from patients and other sources amounting to
£40 0s. Od. Full details of the work carried out are given in the
report on the work of the Dispensary in the Appendix (p. 121.)
Institutional treatment is provided by the London County
Council for Battersea patients, this form of treatment being
arranged for in the majority of cases through the Tuberculosis
Dispensary.
The principal work carried out at the Dispensary during 1929
is summarised as follows :—
Patients and Attendances.
The number of new patients was 709 (555 adults, 154 children),
and the number of contacts examined 192 (72 adults, 120 children).
There were 22 patients transferred from other areas during the
year who subsequently attended the Dispensary, making a total of
923 new patients or contacts.
Of these 923 new patients and contacts 258 were found tuberculous,
including 3 previously " doubtful " cases, and 4 new cases
discovered amongst the 192 contacts examined.
The total number of attendances at the Dispensary during the
year was 3,967.
Visits to the homes of dispensary patients were made by the
Tuberculosis Officer in 167 instances, and 4,531 visits were made
by the Dispensary Nursing Staff. The number of deaths of dispensary
patients was 146. Thirty-eight of the patients were discharged
as " cured " or " disease arrested " during the year, and 54 others
ceased to attend, in addition to 56 patients who removed to other
districts.
Institutional Treatment.
The number of patients who received Institutional treatment
under the L.C.C. Tuberculosis Scheme was 186, and the average
length of stay was 112 days. The average period of waiting before
admission was 15 days. Definite improvement as a result of
institutional treatment was shown in 82 cases. Forty-nine patients
discharged themselves while undergoing institutional treatment.
The number of dispensary patients admitted to St. James's
Hospital during the year was 31.
Contributions of patients undergoing institutional treatment
were collected by the Dispensary and remitted to the L.C.C. to the
amount of £774 7s. 9d.