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65
TUBERCULIN DISPENSARY.
(provisional).
This Dispensary commenced work on October 24th, 1912. 158
patients have been treated up to the 31st May, 1913. Of these
158 patients, 72 (the records of whom are appended to this report) were
treated for longer or shorter periods with Tuberculin; 57 were also
treated with Tuberculin for a very short period, but could not continue
the treatment for various reasons stated below, whilst 29 were attended
at the request of the Insurance Committee—no Tuberculin being used in
these last cases.
In regard to the 72 recorded cases, I have to report as to the state
of the disease and the physical condition of the patients, that on May
31st, 21 cases had much improved, all having returned to work; 5 had
much improved, but had not resumed work; 14 were improved; 5 had
not improved; 2 had died; 2 were found not to be Tuberculous; 11 had
left the district, having gone to a sanatorium or having ceased to attend;
whilst 12 cases are too recent to report upon. Of these (72) cases 34
males and 11 females were insured, whilst 18 males and 9 females were
not insured. 1,254 injections of Tuberculin were given. In regard to
the 57 cases examined in which injections of Tuberculin were given for
brief periods, 27 males and 7 females were not insured, whilst 17 males
and 6 females were insured.
The following were the reasons in the 57 cases for ceasing to attend
the Dispensary: —6 went into the workhouse on account of being
destitute, 4 went into the country, 7 to sanatoria, 1 to own doctor,
7 refused treatment, 12 ceased to attend without giving a reason,
6 removed to another district, 6 were too ill to be treated, 3 were found
not suffering from the disease, whilst 5 were refused treatment as they
were attending a hospital. In these cases 179 injections of Tuberculin
were given.
The time given to the work of the Dispensary by the Medical Officer
of Health, who carried out the work, was two hours each morning and
evening on Tuesdays and Fridays.
No application for treatment was refused.
The utmost capacity of the present Dispensary has now been
reached. The number of patients seen daily has been from 35 to 40.