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62
It has been stated that too little attention is paid to the
examination of contacts, but every endeavour has been made
during the past year to examine the contacts to every notified
case.
During 1026, 118 primary cases were notified, and the contacts
to these cases number in all 958 persons, and of these
541 contacts were examined, making the number examined
over 56 per cent. As one must bear in mind that adult contacts
generally refuse examination unless in ill-health, under the circumstances
already recorded, this percentage is very fair. Some
of these contacts were examined privately and not at the
Dispensary.
During the year 1926, 201 deaths were registered—180 pulmonary
and 21 non-pulmonary; but of these only 3 cases were
not originally notified under the regulations, these being certified
as due to this cause on inquest. Enquiries as to contacts, however,
were made in all cases, with the exception of deaths occurring
in Mental Hospitals.
Of the pulmonary deaths, there were 440 contacts, of which
268 were examined, representing 60.9 per cent. examined; and of
the non-pulmonary deaths there were 69 contacts, of which 25
were examined, representing 36 per cent. examined.
The actual treatment of patients at the Dispensaries has
been most ably and carefully carried out, and the immense
amount of useful work done is tabulated in the reports of the
medical officers in charge of the Dispensaries.