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cases on the dispensary register are those of quiescent
or arrested disease; no specialised treatment is necessary
for such patients, and they only require to he examined
at intervals by the medical officers. Many patients have
come to the Dispensary on the occurrence of trivial ailments
thinking that such were signs of fresh disease, or
breaking down of the old condition; these cases are
referred to their own doctors for the requisite treatment,
the latter being outside the province of the Dispensary.
In regard to new cases, under the existing regulations
the diagnosis (in cases of doubt) must be arrived
at as far as possible within a specified period of 3 months.
At the end of this period of 3 months, the time allowed
for observation, the individual must either be registered
as tuberculous or discharged; although of course if
further suspicion should arise later the patient can always
be seen again, being entered in another year as a new
case. In 1929 the number of new cases was 665, a
decrease of 55 on the previous year, largely accounted
for by the fact that the number of contacts this year
is less.
All contact attendances are voluntary, and the
number of such depends mainly upon the number of
notifications together with the size of families concerned;
but, generally speaking, the "young adult" contacts
do not seem particularly desirous of availing themselves
of the facilities of medical examination.
Apprehension of the consequences following a
possible discovery of tuberculosis has probably the most
influence regarding this reluctance to attend for examination;
and where so much is at stake in the immediate
future, the natural inclination is to carry on and "trust
to luck " (especially, as in the vast majority of contacts,
there is no illness to complain about).
The question of contact attendances receives close
attention both from the medical officers and the nursing
staff, and it is chiefly due to the visiting and friendly
advice of the latter that a certain proportion do present
themselves at the dispensary.