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86
Report of Tuberculosis Officer—continued.
The Dental Surgeon, Mr. J. Eric Magraw, reports the following
as a summary of the year's work:—
Fillings.
Cases. Attendances. Extractions. Amalgam. Plastic. Scalings. Dentures. Repairs.
51 255 110 24 22 102 17 8
Consultations with medical practitioners. The number of
consultations between practitioners and the Tuberculosis Officer
shows a further increase. In many cases the practitioner does not
meet the Tuberculosis Officer, but asks the latter to visit the
patient and let him know his opinion later. The Ministry of Health
now limits the term "Personal Consultations" to those cases in
which the practitioner attends and consults with the Tuberculosis
Officer at the patient's bedside.
Visits to Homes. Owing to an accident, one of the Health
Visitors was absent from duty from March to December, during
which time a temporary Visitor was employed. The number of
visits paid by the Health Visitors was 5,452 compared with
4,810 in the previous year. Reports are made on the undermentioned
points respecting home conditions, contacts, etc.:—
(a) Whether any assistance seems needed for the patient
or family, and action taken, such as reference to the Secretary
to the Tuberculosis Care Committee.
(b) The health of Contacts, and whether they will attend
the Dispensary for examination or go to their own doctors.
(c) The extent to which the patient is taking care to
prevent the spread of infection by following the advice given.
(d) The sanitary condition of the home, defects reported
and action taken to abate nuisances.
In general, the aim has been to concentrate not only on the
patient but on the family to prevent infection, to see that early
disease is detected, and to improve home conditions from the
sanitary and economic viewpoints.
256 of the new attenders were referred by the Council's staff.
Bacteriological examinations of Sputa. The increase in the
number of specimens sent by practitioners for examination is