View report page

60.
wrong and have had nothing to complain about except
perhaps the most trifling symptoms, so trivial in fact
that a visit to the family doctor was not considered
necessary.
In 1928, the number of contacts who attended for
examination was 427; and, as before, every effort has
been made to secure the attendance of these individuals
in all diagnosed cases, whether notified by private
practioners or by the Tuberculosis Officers.
One of the most important duties of the Nursing
Staff is to endeavour to obtain "contacts" at their home
visits, and it is largely due to their tact and persuasion
that so many present themselves for examination at the
Dispensary. It must be remembered that all such attendances
are purely voluntary, and it is greatly to be regretted
that many people are very indifferent or sceptical
as to the value of such examinations in spite of much
patient persuasion.
The benefit of getting at cases of disease and treating
them in the early stages cannot be sufficiently emphasized.
One has only to study the "after" statistics of
ex-sanatorium patients to see that the percentage of
arrests and returns to useful life in those seen and treated
early is much greater than in those of even moderately
advanced disease.
The attendance and examination of contacts receives
close attention from the Tuberculosis Officers, and it is
their aim and endeavour to increase this branch of the
Dispensary work.
Examinations of Sputum.
The number of sputum examinations during the
year has totalled 1687—a very high figure—which is all
the more noticeable in that it is only a portion of the work
carried out in the Bacteriological laboratory by Miss
Robinson, Bacteriologist to the Dispensary. Other