View report page

32
infected other members of the family. Such is the position we
not infrequently have to face because of this Tuberculosis
' phobia.'
" This unfortunate position could be very considerably
remedied by replacing ‘ Tuberculosis Dispensary ' by ' Chest
Clinic.' It is more appropriate and truer since numerous cases
sent up are suffering from other pulmonary diseases than Tuberculosis.
It would create less fear and more confidence in the
mind of the patient."
X-ray examination of the Chest in Diagnosis.
As will be seen from Table 1, a very considerable increase
in the number of X-ray examinations has been made this year.
This has been of enormous advantage together with the other
routine methods in the diagnosis of the disease, although it has
meant additional work for the Dispensary staff. Moreover, in
dismissing the question of pulmonary tuberculosis it has been
invaluable and a glance at Table 1 will show that the number of
cases written off the Dispensary register as " diagnosis not confirmed
" has increased correspondingly. There is not the
slightest doubt that the increase of expenditure on X-ray
examinations of the chest is more than ever a financial gain in
the long run as the figures will show conclusively.
We are again indebted to Dr. Stanley Melville, Radiologist
to Brompton Hospital, and this year to Dr. Mather Cordiner,
Radiologist to East Ham Memorial Hospital, for the very excellent
photographs we have had. To Dr. Cordiner we are also
very much indebted for allowing us to examine many of our own
cases under the X-ray screen. In a few cases this screening
of the chest has given the desired information, no X-ray photograph
has been taken and no charge has been made. So much
benefit has been derived in this way that greater use of this form
of examination is being made.
Examination of Sputum.
Examination by the concentrated antiformin method, where
the ordinary method gives repeatedly negative results, has been
increasingly helpful.