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62
Co-operation with Medical Practitioners. During the year
the Tuberculosis Officer saw 47 new cases at the homes of the
patients, and 260 cases were referred to him at the Dispensary
by medical practitioners in the Borough. These figures show
a slight increase over the previous year.
Home Contacts. The number of home contacts of tuberculous
patients examined at the Dispensary during the year
was 418, a decrease of 107 compared with 1923. The number
of new cases attending the Dispensary during the year was
194, so that the average number of contacts to each case was
a fraction over two. This figure is unsatisfactory, but, of
course, it does not include those contacts examined by general
practitioners. It is difficult to impress upon patients, or the
general public, the necessity for the examination of contacts of
sufferers from Tuberculosis.
Home Nursing. When home nursing is required, the assistance
of the various local nursing associations has been sought,
and, as in previous years, they have been of great assistance
in nursing such patients as are confined to bed.
Extra Nourishment. The Woolwich Tuberculosis CareCommittee
has appointed a sub-committee which reviews
each week the recommendations of the Tuberculosis Officer
for a supply of extra nourishment to certain selected cases of
Tuberculosis. Their recommendations, which are put in
operation immediately, are afterwards subject to the approval
of the Public Health Committee of the Council. Extra
nourishment is only sanctioned for four weeks at a time. The
total number of applications (affecting 89 persons) was 280,
the total cost to the Council being £216 2s. l0d.
Dental Treatment. A scheme for the dental treatment of
tuberculous patients has been in existence since 1922. During