View report page

43
39 Domestic Workers.
11 Dressmakers and Milliners and their Assistants.
5 Agents, Travellers and Canvassers.
40 Clerks (Varied).
5 Messengers and Errand Boys.
2 Private Teachers.
3 Theatrical Artistes and Musicians.
2 Nurses.
1 Steward.
83 Housewives.
212 School Children and Infants.
7 With no occupation.
A large number of patients who were eventually discharged
from the Dispensary as non-tuberculous were kept for a period
under intensive observation before a definite diagnosis was arrived
at. This period of observation does not in the majority of cases
exceed 28 days. In doubtful cases repeated sputum examinations
are undertaken and many patients are referred to St. Thomas's
Hospital for X-ray examination and a further opinion before the
diagnosis is definitely established. The facilities provided by
St. Thomas's Hospital are fully utilised in such cases, and there
is very close co-operation between the Tuberculosis Department
there through the Tuberculosis Officer, and the Battersea Tuberculosis
Dispensary. I have frequently laid stress upon the value
of this close co-operation and wish to acknowledge now as in the
past the very ready help which I have received from Dr. Hebert,
the Tuberculosis Officer, in doubtful cases.
" Contacts."
During the past year 284 "Contacts" were examined at the
Dispensary. Most of those "Contacts" were children, as it is difficult
to persuade adults, who apparently are in good health, of
the necessity for such examinations. The routine examination
of "Contacts," is undoubtedly of great importance and the closer
co-operation between the School Medical Service and the Tuberculosis
Dispensaries which has come into force towards the end of
the year under review, whereby the child "contacts" are kept
under close observation at school, should prove of great value.
"Contacts" of "open cases" ought to be kept under observation
at periodic intervals. Not infrequently does one find that a
patient who has been examined as a "Contact" and passed as
healthy returns to the Dispensary three or four years later definitely
suffering from Tuberculosis. I am of the opinion that the
period of several years following school life is of very great importance
and that a close supervision of "contacts" at this period
would be very valuable. Unfortunately one finds that at this
time of life, the individual fails to understand the necessity for
medical examination.