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49
63. Visiting. Cases notified by the Tuberculosis Dispensary
are visited by the Dispensary Medical Officers and
Nurses, and full particulars provided to the Public Health
Department, which follows up any sanitary defects reported.
Other cases (except where the social conditions are exceptionally
favourable) are visited by the Medical Officer of
Health, or one of the Sanitary Inspectors, instructions as
to precautions and open.air treatment given, and examination
of contacts advised. Printed instructions are sent to every
notified case. Advice and assistance is given as to sanatorium
treatment. Revisits of such cases as most need it are made
by the Health Visitor. Cases returning from sanatoria are
notified to the medical practitioners under whose care they
were before going to the sanatorium. If it was a private
practitioner he is asked if he proposes to keep the patient
under observation for after.care ; if not, the case is referred
to the Tuberculosis Dispensary. In this way it is attempted
to secure that all cases shall have after.care, that the advantage
of sanatorium treatment is not lost, that the lessons learnt at
sanatoria are practised as much as possible at home, and
that the patient is not discouraged by initial difficulties.
64. Bacteriological Diagnosis. Sputum from 254 cases of
suspected phthisis was examined at the Seamen's Hospital and
tubercle bacilli were found in 50 cases. The number of
examinations for the five preceding years was 210, 191, 151,
231, and 273 respectively. In addition, the Medical Officer
examined 515 specimens of sputum at the Tuberculosis
Dispensary, 73 being found positive.
65. In my Annual Report for 1904 some figures were given
as to the "Public.house as a Source of Infection "and
"Chronic Tuberculosis in Children" (see page 50 of the
Report).
D