View report page

21
Treatment of patients had increased considerably during the years of
the War, and a large attendance of query cases was seriously clogging the
machinery. This has now been reduced to a large extent, and only those
patients requiring treatment are retained. Patients are not now treated
merely as a means of keeping them under observation, but arrangements are
made for periodic re-examinations when necessary.
New Patients. The number of patients examined for the first time at the
Dispensaries remains almost the same as in previous years, and there is little
variation in the relative diagnosis.
As each year passes, the number of advanced cases attending for the first
time becomes less, and it is now very seldom that such a type of case is seen,
which has not been previously diagnosed.

*These figures are exclusive of "Contacts" except in the case of St. George-in-the-East. The
figure for this Dispensary includes certain " Contacts "
" Contacts." The subjoined table of figures includes " contacts " under
two heads, viz. (1) the " contacts" of cases officially notified as suffering
from Tuberculosis, and (2) "contacts" of patients who have attended a
Dispensary for the first time.
The latter are not necessarily definite cases of Tuberculosis, some being
query cases. " Contacts " of these are, however, examined because it sometimes
occurs that a " contact " of a query case, is found to be the original
source of infection.
Since the Dispensaries were taken over by the Borough Council in April,
1921, the examination of " contacts " has become more efficient owing to the
fact that the Tuberculosis Officers now have access to the notifications of
Tuberculosis.
The patients' homes are visited and appointments made for the examination
of the " contacts."
Any " contact" found to be tuberculous or to show any suspicion of the
disease, is placed under treatment or observation as is considered appropriate,
and the notifying doctor is informed.