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39
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
The amount expended on dental treatment during the year
was £28 16s. 6d., while the cost of dentures supplied to patients
was £40 2s. 0d.
Extra Nourishment.—On June 22nd, 1921, the Council decided
to supply extra nourishment to persons suffering from tuberculosis,
under Section 3 of the Public Health (Prevention and Treatment of
Disease) Act, 1913. The scheme was approved by the Ministry of
Health and has been in operation during the year. It provides that
the nourishment be granted on medical grounds only, and be considered
as part of treatment. It is limited to the slighter cases of
disease, where there is a reasonable probability that extra nourishment
will increase the chances of recovery, or will enable the patient
to remain at work, or to return to work at an early date. Any
articles of diet considered necessary for the particular individual can
be ordered, provided the total cost per patient does not exceed ten
shillings a week. The financial circumstances of each case are investigated
and steps are taken to ensure, as far as possible, that the
articles of diet ordered are consumed by the patient. During the
year under consideration, 89 patients have been granted extra
nourishment under the scheme at a cost of £228 5s. 3d. The scheme
has been found to be of great help in the treatment of the types of
patient mentioned above.
Shelters.—The two shelters have been in continuous use
during the year; and more, if available, could have been utilised.
Details of Work During 1923.—Table XXI. shows in the
lirst column the number of cases under observation at the Dispensary
at the beginning of the year ; then the number of new cases examined
during the year ; and, finally, the number of cases under observation
pending diagnosis at the end of the year. The total number of
cases thus dealt with is divided into three sub-groups, according as
they have been found to be suffering from tuberculosis of the lungs
or of other organs, or free from tuberculosis. These cases are all
divided into groups according to whether adults or children, and
also according to sex.
After giving the above details regarding all new cases, the
table deals with the contacts in a similar manner, and then with
the insured persons.