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The Examination
Prom our previous survey, and from surveys in other parts of
the country and from my frequent visits to the hospital I felt I
was fairly familiar with the type of diseases I should expect to
come across. There was need to get the procedure of examination
into systematic order. I begin with a chat with my visitor and we
get to know each other. I explain the purpose of the clinic is to
provide a medical check-up to see if there is anything needing
attention and to see if the clinic can help in any and every way
possible to prevent deterioration in health and to keep the visitor
as fit as we can. I explain I can write to the private practitioner;
to the optician about glasses and about applying for assistance in
paying for them; to the National Assistance Officer in certain
cases for assistance with extra money for food and special items;
and by seeking to smooth out difficulties through relatives, the
charity associations, and any other agencies necessary. I ask
about the home and the family, about past illnesses, accidents and
operations; and by this time the ice is broken. In every case my
visitor has then been most willing to be examined.
I do a complete examination from hair to toes. In the dark
room I do a full eye examination, test the vision and check the
glasses. I examine the eats and do hearing tests. I examine the
nose, teeth and dentures, mouth and throat. In the examination room
I examine the thyroid gland, arm, hands and grip, heart, lungs,
abdomen, legs and feet. Later I take the blood pressure, a drop of
blood for haemoglobin examination, and a blood slide for examination
under the microscope. I take a photograph for record purposes.
The height and weight are recorded and a specimen of urine tested.
In every case, whether the person needs treatment or not I
have sent a full report to the practitioner of every person who
has attended the clinic; it gives the medical details of everything
found; The practitioners seem very satisfied with this arrangement.
They know what is going on; there can be no question of misinterpretation
as to what I have said or found.
I feel I must give a special word of praise for the general
practitioners. Prom the start they have co-operated in every
possible way and have shown the most enlightened approach which
augnrs well for the future.
Smoothing out the Troubles
Every person I have examined has had something wrong. I wish
I could claim that it was always possible to put it right; some day
we may be able to prevent it from ever hapening. In the meantime
something can usually be done even it it is only relief from the
anxiety of worrying about it,for a trouble shared is a trouble
halved.
Good Equipment Needed
However, I do need proper equipment. In addition to a case of
eye test lenses, I need properly illuminated test charts of a
special kind for old people; I need some sort of a slit lamp
microscope to examine for early cataract and other conditions; I
need a perimeter for testing restriction of the visial fields
which is an early sign of glaucoma.
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