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WORK OF THE CHEST CLINICS
I have pleasure in submitting the following report and Table on
the work of the Chest Clinics during the year under review, forwarded
to me by Dr. D. G. Madigan, Chest Physician, to whom I express
my thanks:—
"Comparison with the figures for previous years will show
that the numbers of new cases of tuberculosis are still slightly
decreasing, and as a result the numbers of new contacts examined
are correspondingly lower. Again, no active case of pulmonary
tuberculosis was discovered among the contacts examined.
The total number of patients referred for investigation,
however, is increasing, and of these, many are found to be suffering
from other chest conditions, and as bronchial carcinoma,
bronchiectasis, or chronic bronchitis, and are admitted to hospital
for treatment. The increase in the number of children examined
is occasioned by the fact that positive tuberculin skin test reactors,
found in the course of the Schools B.C.G. vaccination programme,
are referred to the Chest Clinics for investigation. It is important
to be mindful of the fact that positive Mantoux reactors have
been infected with the germ of tuberculosis, and may in the future
develop pulmonary tuberculosis.
In the field of treatment of tuberculosis by chemotherapy,
one must again emphasize the importance of the full co-operation
of the patient in regularly taking the drugs prescribed over long
periods, in order to minimize the risk of the emergence of resistant
organisms. A preliminary period of hospital treatment, whereby
the patient can be made to understand fully the reasons why it is
essential not to miss taking the drugs in the correct dosage, and
where any initial difficulties, such as drug intolerance, can be
dealt with, is a sine qua non. Without this full, and understanding,
co-operation the great advances made in recent years in the control
of the disease might well be of a transient nature."

B.C.G. Vaccination of contacts : 80.
Number of Tuberculous Patients admitted to Hospital or Sanatorium
during 1960: 22.
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