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33
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Table XXIX. further divides the new cases into insured and
non-insured, giving the total attendances made by each and the
average attendance per case.
Table XXX. deals similarly with cases of the previous years
attending during the year 1917.
It is satisfactory to note in Table XXX. that over one-fourth
of the new cases were recommended by existing patients, and also a
considerable number, 14.3 per cent., were sent by medical practitioners.
156 men Were sent by the Army Medical Boards for
examination and reports. In each case where available an
examination of sputum was made. Of these 86 were found to
be suffering either from active disease or showing signs of old
tubercular trouble. 70 were reported as non-tuberculous.
In Tables XXXII. and XXXIII. is revealed a most important
part of the work of the Dispensaries—of which, however, future
years alone will show the results. This is the examination and in
many cases the treatment of "contacts" amongst children. It
will be seen that under 15 years of age only six were definitely
diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis, while 268 others Were
examined and kept under observation and in many cases treated for
months, thereby improving their health and undoubtedly warding
off the onset of active disease. This is a work that goes on steadily
the results of which cannot be tabulated to prove its usefulness, but
the improvement in weight and appearance of the sickly children
is sufficient to satisfy those in contact with the work.
The following Table shows the number of children under 16
attending the Dispensaries during the year, viz., 882. Of these,
185 were suffering from Tuberculosis in some form. A considerable
number have obtained sanatorium treatment under the London