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61.
bacteriological and pathological work done during the
past year has largely increased in amount, and has in
fact almost trebled during the past few years.
Work of this description is often extremely detailed
and takes considerable time, whilst it is of the greatest
importance in Public Health measures, especially in
such times when there happens to be an outbreak of such
diseases as Typhoid and its sub-groups. A summary of
the work done in this very important department is
given elsewhere.
Clerical Department.
The work in this department has increased very
much during the past two or three years. Attention is
drawn to the large number of letters (5840) which were
sent out in 1928, and I may state that this actually is
only part of the work which is carried out by Miss
Sargent, Clerk to the Dispensary and Secretary of the
Care Association, with the help of Miss Holah as parttime
clerk.
X-ray Examinations.
Under arrangements made between the Borough of
Fulham and Brompton Hospital for Consumption, cases
for X-ray examination by screening and by skiagrams
are sent to the latter institution from time to time when
required.
The X-rays form a most valuable adjunct to the
physical examination of phthisical patients; and indeed
are essential in dealing with suspected disease in bones
and joints, which is in many cases quite impossible to
diagnose with certainty by purely external means.
The number of patients referred for X-ray examinations
to Brompton Hospital in 1928 was 70, being a
slight increase of 12 over the previous year.
It may be stated that some difference of opinion may
be met with regarding the value of X-rays in dealing
with pulmonary disease; but there is no doubt that they
are in certain doubtful cases a most valuable assistance