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59
Patients and Attendances.
In 1934, 728 new cases were added to the dispensary records,
10 more than in 1933. These consisted of 498 persons who were
referred by medical practitioners, otherwise presented themselves
for examination, or were receiving treatment under the London
County Council's tuberculosis scheme ; 209 who had been in contact
with cases of tuberculosis ; and 21, already notified in other districts,
who had moved into Battersea.
Of these 728 cases 463 were discharged as non-tuberculous
(including 199 of the contacts), 190 were found to be suffering from
the disease, and 75 (including 10 contacts) were kept under observation
for diagnosis.
Particulars of the 190 positive cases are given under the next
heading, and also in form T.145 on page 118. Notifications of
169 of these were sent to the Medical Officer of Health.
Old patients to the number of 667 also attended during the
year, and the total number of attendances at the Dispensary during
the year was 3,577 (of which 2,849 were of old patients), as compared
with 3,545 in 1933.
Visits to the homes of dispensary patients were made by the
Tuberculosis Officers in 290 instances, and 4,200 visits were made
by the Dispensary nursing staff. The number of deaths of dispensary
patients was 95 as compared with 106 in 1933. Sixty-six
of the patients were discharged as " recovered " or " diagnosis not
confirmed " during the year, and 30 others ceased to attend, in
addition to 72 patients who removed to other districts.
New Patients.
The five following tables contain particulars of the 190 new
cases found to be suffering from tuberculosis.
In the first table the Pulmonary cases are grouped under two
headings :—
(1) Group T.B. Minus. In those cases Tubercle Bacilli
have never been found to be present in the sputum.
(2) Group T.B. Plus. In thoses cases Tubercle Bacilli have
been found in the sputum at some time.
Group T.B. Plus is sub-divided under three headings:—
Group I.—early cases.
Group II.—intermediate cases.
Group III.—advanced cases.
As in previous years, it will be noted that in the Pulmonary
group the incidence is highest in the age period 16.25, being 39.4
per cent. of the total cases.