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72.
(6) Sanocrysin. treatment consists of the administration
of certain salts of gold either orally or by injection.
It can be used in combination with artificial pneumothorax,
and has proved to be successful (as far as time
has shewn) in some cases of tuberculosis.
Contacts.
The attendance of contacts for examination, either
at home or at the Dispensary is a measure which always
exercises the attention of the Dispensary staff; but it is
not an easy matter in many cases to obtain, as such
examinations are purely voluntary on the part of the
individual.
All new cases are urged to send or bring relations
and children, and a certain proportion avail themselves
of the invitation: but, generally speaking, the young
adult contacts are very unconcerned indeed, in some
cases treat the matter as a huge joke and only allow
themselves to be examined as an "act of grace" to the
medical staff.
Fear of possible consequences may in others be the
chief reason for non-attendance; many preferring, no
doubt, to "chancing their lack and carrying on," and
only coming up to be seen when a cough or other ailment
develops.
In 1930, the medical officers examined 321 contacts,
an increase of 39 over the previous year : but the
numbers naturallv varv from year to year and it is
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impossible to prophesy either increase or decrease,
although it is hoped that with education and judicious
persuasion, more may be induced to come up in the
future.
Tuberculosis in Children.
It is generally accepted in these days that primary
infection with the Tubercle Bacillus occurs in the great
majority during the first few years of life. A severe
infection in the infant would probably cause rapidly
fatal disease (in the largest proportion of which the
meningeal type predominates) : but a mild tuberculiza-