View report page

162
every town dweller has been infected with this bacillus by the time he
attains adult age. It will be seen, however, that this test provides
valuable information in the case of children who present symptoms which
might be ascribed to tuberculosis. The younger a patient with a positive
reaction the more importance can be attached to it. A Mantoux reaction
can vary in degree and sometimes may give an indication of the efficiency
or otherwise of the isolation of the infectious patient in the home.
During the year 29 Mantoux Tests have been carried out on children.
X-RAY DEPARTMENT.
In February, 1936, an X-Ray plant was installed in the small room
behind the consulting room in the Dispensary. This comprises a NonRectified
Unit and a combined Couch and Screening Stand. Though this
unit was comparatively inexpensive it is possible to do really good chest
work, and though the room in which it is now housed is too small for
comfortable work it has proved of enormous value in the increasing work
of this Dispensary. In a number of cases X-Ray photographs are taken
on paper films which have the advantage of being half the price of the
normal X-Ray films and we have now adopted a technique for their use
which gives most satisfactory results.
An X-Ray photograph is taken of every case, even if it has been
referred to us already diagnosed and there is no doubt these photographic
records of cases will be of great value in subsequent years when patients
return for Dispensary supervision after sanatorium treatment.
Every adult and adolescent contact is screened and if necessary a
confirmatory photograph is taken. Younger children are always X-Rayed
should there be any indication for it.
The progress of patients who are having Artificial Pneumothorax
refills (which will be explained later) is also checked by frequent screen
examination. In fact it would be highly undesirable to carry out this
treatment at the Dispensary without convenient access to an X-Ray
plant.
We have recently acquired a small attachment for the existing
X-Ray tube which makes it possible to do Dental X-Ray, and it is
expected that this will prove of considerable help to the Dental Officer
in the future.
716 patients have been screened and 272 photographs taken during
the year.