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(a) New Patients.
947 new patients were seen during the year, as compared with
940 in 1924, 706 in 1923, 702 in 1922, and 712 in 1921.
Of the 947 new cases, 265 were referred by local doctors for
diagnosis or advice, 44 by hospitals, 133 by school medical staff or
by the medical officers of Infant Centres, 57 attended independently,
25 were transfers from other areas, 402 were seen as
"contacts," 10 were pensioners, and 11 miscellaneous cases.
Of these 947 patients, 267 were diagnosed as tuberculous, 239
were kept under observation to settle the diagnosis, and 441 were
found not to be tuberculous.
(b) Continued Supervision of Patients'.
Old cases were kept systematically under observation and
supervision during the year. The total number of attendances
made at the dispensary was 8,394, as compared with 8,414 in 1924,
6,789 in 1923, 6,454 in 1922, and 7,576 in 1921.
(c) Contact Cases.
Of the 947 new patients seen at the dispensary during the
year 402 were contacts of other known patients, brought up for
examination for that reason, in order to assist the detection of the
disease at the earliest stage possible.
(d) Provision of Foodstuffs, Medicine, and Apparatus.
Milk is provided in necessitous cases, where such provision is
needed to prevent deterioration in the patient's condition pending
admission to a sanatorium, or where with such provision there are
reasonable grounds to anticipate a cure of the disease. In the case
of school children the milk recommended is provided bv the Education
Committee at school, subject to periodic re-examination of
the children.
Medicine to a small extent, cod liver oil and malt in larger
amount are issued chiefly to children and to a few uninsured adults.
Insured patients and pensioners receive such drugs as are necessarv
through their panel doctors. The cost price is charged for drugs
issued from the dispensary in all except necessitous cases.
(e) Home Nursing.
One nurse is entirely engaged in the nursing at home of bedridden
patients requiring special assistance and supervision, including
the keeping of temperature records for diagnostic purposes,
and the obtaining of sputum when required.