A retrospective cohort of 996 TB patients, between Jan. 1986 and Feb. 1987, diagnosed and treated at a rural TB clinic in 24 Parganas District of West Bengal, was analysed with regard to case-holding, treatment completion and failure to achieve a successful result vis-a-vis sputum-positive patients. The overall treatment completion rate was 67% and sputum-conversion among the bacillary cases was 57%. The study revealed that the treatment completion rate in the project area cases, who got home visits and remotivation in the event of a default in drug collection, was no better than that of non-project patients who merely got postal reminders. Treatment compliance rate was significantly better among those below 30 years of age and females when compared with older and male patients. Other study results were comparable to those obtained in a DTC TB clinic in urban conditions.