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Health. Visitors :
Miss Cove (Supt., Centre) Nat. Health Diploma.
Miss Callaghan (Supt., Centre) H.Y., San. Insp. Cert. Domestic
Economy, &c.
(With assistants, paid and voluntary, holding H.V. certificates, and
nursing experience.
Four Midwives.
Mrs. Shanks (Supt., Mothercraft Classes, Reg. Teacher, &c.).
Mrs. Steffens (Assistant, Mothercraft Classes).
ANNUAL REPORT BY THE TUBERCULOSIS MEDICAL
OFFICER, 1924.
The number of new patients examined shows again an increase over
the previous year. In 1922 the number was 421, in 1923 it was 529. and
in 1924 it has increased to 603. The new patients examined in the
infirmary have largely contributed to the growing numbers, making a
proportion of 130, while in the previous year they amounted to 60. The
period which is represented by the smaller number was, however, not a
full year, as my appointment as consultant in tuberculosis to the infirmary
dated from the beginning of May, 1923. In last year's report I referred
at some length to the usefulness of the Tuberculosis Officer being attached
to the infirmary, and I pointed out that in many instances patients who
ordinarily would have been unwilling to enter that institution went in
without raising objection when they realised that the Tuberculosis Officer
would visit them there. The fact that it was possible for them to be
transferred to sanatoria subsequently also had a favourable influence.
There is no doubt that many patients who were suffering at home from the
lack of skilled nursing, insufficient food and unfavourable surroundings
derived lasting benefit from treatment in the infirmary.
It might be of interest to note the types of the disease which one meets
with in the tuberculosis wards of the infirmary. Firstly, there are the
acute cases, many of them being young adults between the ages of 25 and
35. Very often the reason for their admission has been a haemorrhage or