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60
Collie, M.D., and able to resume her post at the
Dispensary on November 2nd. In this connection, I
should like to record my appreciation of the very
efficient manner in which her duties were carried out
by Mrs. Tremeer, Temporary Health Visitor during
the period of Miss Bowen's absence.
Holiday, etc., duties, were, as before, carried out
by Dr. C. Ross (late Assistant Medical Officer M. and
C.W. Dept.) who has acted as full-time tuberculosis
officer on several occasions very efficiently.
New Cases.
During 1931, the number of new cases was 608, of
which 262 were referred directly by private practitioners
in the borough, and 100 by other medical authorities
and departments.
Contacts.
Attendances numbered 512, with 415 examinations.
These are higher figures than before and it is
to be hoped that they can be kept up in the future.
It must be remembered however that the factors which
make for contact attendances vary a great deal from
year to year, and all such attendances are entirely
voluntary. There are so many who fail to attend in
spite of persuasion and encouragement from the
Dispensary Staff, of whom the tuberculosis Health
Visitors in their home visiting play a most important
part.
It is difficult to say whether indifference and
apathy or actual fear of consequences is responsible
for failure to attend; but the matter always receives
close attention.
General Attendances.
There were during 1931, 3,581 attendances of both
sexes at the dispensary, the actual number of patients
being 1,388. There is but little difference in these
figures compared with the previous year, but as has