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94
Report of Tuberculosis Officer—continued.
The Health Visitors impress particularly on parents the advisability
of young adult contacts coming for examination and, when
re-visiting, enquire especially about their health, as secondary
cases may not develop symptoms for even some years after the
primary case.
These adolescent and young adult contacts, among whom the
death-rate is so high, and whom particularly it would be most
desirable and useful to keep under periodical supervision after a
case has occurred in the household, are those it is most difficult
to get to attend for even one examination.
Dental Treatment.
Twenty-six cases were referred to the Dental Surgeon for treatment.
Frequently when dental cases are seen at the Dispensary
they are febrile, and the treatment most urgently needed is rest;
so dental treatment may be postponed, and in some cases is
eventually carried out while the patient is in an institution.
The Borough Council provides the services of a Dental Surgeon,
who attends weekly. Treatment is free but, in the provision of
dentures, persons able to contribute to the cost are assessed after
consideration of a recommendation of the Tuberculosis Care
Committee, by the Public Health Committee in respect of any
balance remaining after contributions from insurance societies or
voluntary associations have been taken into account.
Where the patient is on out-relief the Public Assistance Committee
have been asked to meet the cost.
The income and expenditure in connection with the supply of
dentures and repairs to dentures to 18 patients were as follows:—
£
s.
d.
Total cost of dentures and repairs
38
6
6
Total cost of free cases
20
19
8
Contributions from Approved Societies
7
3
4
„ Public Assistance Committee
5
0
0
„ Patients
5
3
6