View report page

26
tically every session patients are sent up with letters from their
doctors asking for an opinion with regard to the patient in question.
In many cases, where the diagnosis is doubtful, patients are
kept under a period of observation, and in order that the dispensary
may give the practitioner the best possible assistance with his
suspicious cases—which is one of the objects of the dispensary—
certain essential examinations are made.
Examination of Sputum.
This is carried out in every case where sputum is available. In
suspicious cases after two or three negative sputa have been
obtained by the ordinary routine method, a more concentrated
method of examination has this year been adopted at the dispensary
—known as the " antiformin method." This has in several cases
proved to- be very helpful and, moreover, economical. For whilst
on occasions several sputum examinations have proved negative
by the ordinary "carbol-fuchsin method" the "antiformin
method" has given a positive result, thus avoiding further repeated
examinations by the ordinary method.
X-ray examination of the chest.
The value of this form of examination in suspected cases is
now universally recognised. We have this year at the dispensary
made increased use of this form of examination, which has proved
to be extremely helpful. We have been fortunate in obtaining the
co-operation of Dr. Stanley Melville, Radiologist to the Brompton
Hospital, and the photographs obtained have been of immense
value in diagnosing- early cases of the disease, where other clinical
and pathological examinations have been indefinite. So valuable
is X-ray examination of suspected chest cases considered to be, that
certain Authorities are adopting the principle of having every
suspicious "Contact" case radiographed, and with advantageous
results. It is a combination of the use of clinical, pathological
and radiological methods which enables us to diagnose the cases
in their early and curable state.
Temperature observations.
This procedure has been made full use of in suspected cases,
and patients under observation have been carefully instructed by
the nurses to keep temperature charts for a week and bring them
to the dispensary. Moreover, the fallacy of keeping the
thermometer in the mouth for only half of a minute is pointed out