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48
The following reports have been furnished by the Tuberculosis Officers giving
particulars concerning the clinical duties carried out by them at the dispensaries under their
charge and in their respective areas:—

The Oakley Square and Maiden Road Dispensaries deal with cases of tuberculosis in
Wards 1 to 6. In the above table, for the years 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, the Notifications
and Deaths in Wards 1 to 6, new cases seen at dispensaries and total attendances, etc., is
given. This shows that, though the notifications and deaths have fallen, the number of new
cases seen at dispensaries has increased. It will be seen that the new cases for 1924 are below
those for 1923. This decrease is due almost entirely to the decrease in the number of
contacts examined during the year. In 1922 and 1923 an endeavour was made to obtain
better results in this important branch of the work, i.e., the examination of contacts, by
trying to induce all contacts of notified cases to attend for examination at the dispensary ; but in
1924 visitors were instructed to advise contacts to be examined by their own panel or private
doctor if they had one ; if not, to attend at the dispensary for examination.
As regards total attendances, these are shown not to have increased since 1921
proportionately with the new cases. The reason for this is that, since 1921, it has also been
endeavoured to limit treatment at the dispensaries to those requiring some special treatment,
or to those who had no panel doctor and were unable to obtain adequate treatment otherwise.
The number on treatment at the dispensaries in 1924: is 73 greater than that for 1923.
With reference to cases put on observation at the dispensary, it is considered more
satisfactory to put on a period of observation all cases which, especially if they are “contacts,”
are not in good health, even though there are no definite signs of Tuberculosis present. This
number is increasing, and is about 100 more for 1924 than for 1923. Many of these
doubtful cases are referred for X-ray examination, a note being sent to the radiographer on
the clinical findings. Fifty-one such cases were sent for X-ray report in 1924. A definite
decsion is generally arrived at in two months. Of 55 cases, which were during the year over
two months on observation, the cause in 43 of these was non-attendance or irregular attendance
on the part of the patient. In many cases this is probably due to the clearing up of some
suspicious condition present when the child or person comes first to the dispensary, so that
re-attendance is not considered necessary. Such irregular attenders are visited when they do
not come at the time fixed, to ascertain the cause and try to secure re-attendance.
The number of Insured patients under Domiciliary Treatment is increased by 52 over
the 1923 figure, and the number of reports received from Insurance Practitioners in respect of
these patients is increased bv 30. As a rule reports are required three monthly from practitioners,