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APPENDIX II.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY.
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1928.
By H. Tylford Howell, M.R.C.S., Eng., L.R.C.P., Lond.,
Clinical Tuberculosis Officer.
There has been no change in the personnel of the department during the
year. Dr. W. J. Dowling, the Assistant Tuberculosis Officer, who had been
given five months' leave of absence after a breakdown in health, returned
to duty in June, and I am pleased to report that there has been no relapse.
No radical change in the routine of the Dispensary has been introduced,
and the sessions have remained the same. Patients are seen on Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings from ten to twelve
o'clock; Wednesday evenings from 5.30 to 7 p.m.; and on Thursday
evenings from 7.30 to 9 p.m. Saturday mornings are reserved, as far as
possible, for school children, while the evening sessions are intended for
patients who are at work during the day, and such mothers as find it
difficult to attend at other times.
Advantage has been taken of recent structural alterations to the Hospital
to secure a small room, vacated by the Cardiological Department, for use
as a laboratory. The former laboratory has been converted into an office
for the Dispensary Clerk, and it is expected that the convenience of having
the Clerk on the same floor as the rest of the staff will materially add to
the smooth working of the department.
There has been no change in the remaining accommodation of the
department, which is in every way adequate. In addition to offices for the
Tuberculosis Officers and Clerk we have at our disposal patients' waitingrooms,
two large consulting-rooms, each with two dressing-rooms, and a
dark-room for throat examinations attached. The generous dressing-room
accommodation provided enables us to work systematically, and to pay
due regard to privacy and consideration of patients' personal feelings.
The practice of the two Medical Officers consulting one another on
doubtful cases is being continued, while full use is made of the facilities
afforded for personal consultation on difficult cases with the Hospital
Physicians and Surgeons.
The close association with the Hospital Staff I believe to be of inestimable
value. It not only enables us to discuss individual cases, but
the daily contact with physicians and surgeons treating general diseases
in addition to Tuberculosis is of an obvious stimulant value to Tuberculosis
Officers, who from the nature of their work might not unnaturally be inclined
to develop rather a restricted clinical vision.
We continue to utilize in every way the resources of the special departments
of the Hospital, cases being frequently referred to the Laryngologist,