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32
It is intended to be in close touch with the various means available in the locality
for the treatment and isolation of patients, and to be the centre of all efforts directed
towards the prevention and cure of the disease.
By means of an organisation of this kind, we are enabled to penetrate further
and attack the disease at its root. The Dispensary is organised in such a manner that
the disease is dealt with in the homes of the people. It is there that infection usually
takes place, consequently, it is there that the first and greatest effort against the
disease must be directed.
Patients are seen at the Dispensary, where they are examined. A record is
taken of their condition, history, &c., after which they are treated at the Dispensary,
or are recommended for Sanatoria if suitable, or for Convalescent Homes and Infirmaries,
if necessary.
The Dispensary Nurse visits the homes of the patients with a view of persuading
them to adopt the best methods available in their homes, to minimise the risk of
infection to others, and to arrange for a systematic examination of "contacts,"
and inquire as to any cases which may have occurred prior to the visit of the patient
to the Dispensary.
Many patients are discovered in the curable or merely suspicious stage, who
might otherwise progress to the incurable stage before a diagnosis of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis is established, or even before the patient realised that anything serious
is the matter. It is only in this manner that we can hope to make a successful
fight against the malady, we must not wait until the infected members of a family
present themselves for treatment. It is then often too late. We must follow the
patients to their homes and search for the disease.
It is interesting to note that in the examination of contacts, advanced cases
are discovered, which have perhaps been the original source of infection, but advice
has never been sought, with the result that ignorance has caused the onset of the
disease in other members of the family
Many of the "contact" cases require little more than instruction in the healing
and recuperative properties of the open air. Some require more active measures,
and these are treated at the Dispensary by Tuberculin or other means, or are sent
to Sanatoria. The injection of Tuberculin was given to nearly 40 per cent. of the
consumptives treated at the Dispensaries during the year. The advanced and
dangerous cases are, as far as possible, sent to the Infirmaries, but when this cannot
be done or is unnecessary, such cases were treated at home, effort being directed
towards the prevention of infection.