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21
"Contacts.''
The examination of "contacts" has been more satisfactory than in
previous years. It has been found possible to arrange for a much larger
percentage to be examined. Recently an arrangement has been made with
the L.C.C. School Medical Officers, which ensures that no "contact" of
school age will remain unexamined. If the Dispensaries are unable to
arrange an examination, the School Medical Officers are notified and the
examination is carried out at school.
The result of examination of all "contacts" of school age also is
communicated to the School Medical Officers and reciprocal reports arei
exchanged as appears necessary.
The above arrangements have been in force only for a comparatively
short time, making it yet too early to appreciate results, but the fact that no
"contact" of school age now remains unexamined, is of great value.
The desirability of routine "contact" examination has on a number of
occasions been proved recently by the discovery of advanced and very
infective cases, which have evidently disseminated infection to the other
members of the family for years past and have remained undiscovered and
untreated until routine "contact" examination has revealed the source of
infection.
In the case of one family most of the members were already under
treatment for tuberculosis and had evidently all become infected by one
member, who had advanced disease, but who had never sought medical
advice.
Infection from this one case had apparently been going on lor a number
of years. It is, of course, impossible to estimate how many other members
of the community may have contracted tuberculosis as a result of infection
from this case.
It is these unknown cases which are particularly likely to spread infection
owing to the fact that they take no precautions against infecting others.
The analysis of "contact" examination will be found in Table II.