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or by the medical officers of Infant Centres, 68 attended independently,
20 were transfers from other areas, 429 were seen as
"contacts," 11 were pensioners, and 4 miscellaneous cases.
Of these 971 patients, 343 were diagnosed as tuberculous, 167
were kept under observation to settle the diagnosis, and 461 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 7,904, as compared with 8,394 in
1925, 8,414 in 1924, 6,789 in 1923, 6,454 in 1922, and 7,576 in
1921.
(c) Contact Cases.
Of the 971 new patients seen at the dispensary during the
year 429 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.
The arrangements in regard to the provision of milk, of cod
liver oil, etc., have continued on the basis set out in last year's
report, and need not again be detailed.
(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.
Such patients received a total of 2,049 visits during the year
for the purpose of home-nursing.
(f) Supervision of Home Conditions.
The health visitor for the district obtains particulars as to
the patient, the home circumstances, possible sources of infection,
and the names of any other residents with symptoms suggestive
of the disease. The patient and contacts with suspicious
symptoms are then in suitable cases seen at the dispensary.
Quarterly visits are paid by the health visitor to ascertain the
health of patients and contacts, and advice is given where
required on measures aimed at the prevention of infection of the
remainder of the household. A total of 3,362 such visits were
made during the year, as against 3,845 in 1925 and 4,666 in 1924.
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