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25
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE TUBERCULOSIS
DISPENSARY.
The regulations concerning the administration of tuberculosis
schemes issued by the Ministry of Health in Memo. 37/T continue
to work satisfactorily.
Co-operation with the Dispensary in the prevention of the
disease shows a marked improvement, and the Dispensary can be
truly said to be a centre for diagnosis in suspected cases, apart
from the advice which is given in the mode of living to tubercular
patients generally.
Special attention is being paid to those patients who have had
a course of sanatorium treatment, more particularly in following
them up with regard to their " after care." Emphasis is laid
upon their endeavouring to live the sanatorium life at home as far
as is practically possible, such patients being kept under regular
dispensary supervision and examined at short periodic intervals
in order to see that advice is being carefully followed. It is only
in this way that the advantage of sanatorium treatment can be
made a permanent one, for unless the patient realises that this
treatment must be followed up at home as far as possible, there is
a risk that the disease will again become active. Then there is
the question of such patients endeavouring to avoid repeated colds,
which are always a grave danger. In the majority of cases home
treatment is difficult to carry out successfully as the houses are
overcrowded and the use of a shelter often impracticable.
The examination of contacts is an important sphere of work
at the dispensary for it is here particularly that preventive work
holds the field. This year contacts have presenred themselves for
examination in increased numbers and, what, is more satisfactory,
many have attended of their own accord for examination, and those
whom the nurses have advised to attend for examination have
needed less persuasion than hitherto.
There are, therefore, obvious signs of improvement in cooperation
with the Dispensary by individuals on the lay side—and
in this connection one cannot speak too highly of the ever ready
support in this " contact " work by the visiting nurses of the
dispensary staff. Co-operation with the dispensary on the part
of General Practitioners has been highly satisfactory. At