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92
up on the specified dates, a further endeavour is made to
secure the patient's attendance by home visits by the Dispensary
nurses.
84. Contacts. Contacts are examined at the Dispensary
but, if they do not attend, it is the duty of the Tuberculosis
Visitor to re-visit in order to persuade them to attend.
Occasionally contacts are examined at home.
85. Diagnosis. For the purposes of diagnosis the ordinary
routine examinations are carried out, and, when necessary,
cases are referred to the Seamen's Hospital for consultative
purposes. During the year no cases were so referred.
As regards the examination of sputum, the methods used
are the Ziehl-Nielson and the Anti-formin. Ellis's Cutaneous
Test is used in a number of cases.
86. Treatment. The Intensive Iodine method is utilised
in selected cases (51 in 1920), and is found to be of most service
in the cases of the patient with moderately advanced disease.
Tuberculin is used in a few selected cases of tuberculous
glands of the neck, and in a few pulmonary cases, and has been
found of value. 16 cases were treated in 1920. Guaiacol in
increasing doses from m5 to m15 was used in 26 cases during
1920. It is difficult to be exact in the relative value of each
form of treatment, but Dispensary treatment appears to
yield results equal to those attained by the existing sanatorium
treatment, while on the other hand domiciliary treatment
yields the least satisfactory results.
I am indebted to the Tuberculosis Officer, Dr. F. J. C.
Blackmore, for the above information.
87. Dental Treatment. No arrangements have been made
for the provision of dental treatment.