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The experience in Camberwell is that there is no difficulty in
obtaining suitable residential treatment for children suffering from
tuberculosis. Looking at the lists given above, the cases of spine,
hip and knee disease may be taken for closer analysis in support of
this statement, which is true of all cases.
Spine.—The total number of primary notifications of tubercle
of the spine in children under 16 years of age in 1922 was 5. Four
of these were sent by the Guardians to Queen Mary's Hospital,
Carshalton. One case was sent by the London County Council to
hospital (prior to treatment out of London). At the end of a
fortnight however the parent made other arrangements of a satisfactory
nature for the further treatment of the child.
Hip.—The total number of Primary Notifications of tubercle
of the hip joint in children under 16 years of age in 1922 was 7.
Four of these were sent by the Guardians to Queen Mary's Hospital,
Carshalton. Two were sent by the London County Council to the
Cheyne Hospital and to Princess Mary's Hospital, Margate. One
child was notified for the first time after residential treatment was
completed and the disease arrested.
Knee.—The total number of Primary Notifications of tubercle
of the knee joint in children under 16 years of age in 1922 was 7.
Two were sent by the Guardians to Carshalton. Four were sent
by the London County Council to the following institutions: —Queen
Mary's Hospital, Carshalton; Princess Mary's Hospital, Margate;
Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot, and the Victoria Home, Margate.
One child was notified for the first time on discharge from residential
treatment with arrested disease. One child who commenced treatment
in 1922 at Margate under the London County Council Scheme
was notified for the first time in December, 1921.
In former days children suffering from tuberculosis of Bones
and Joints, etc., were kept too long in the wards of London Hospitals
and Infirmaries. In some cases they were even treated as outpatients
over prolonged periods. Nowadays, the great aim is to
send them out of London as soon as possible after diagnosis. They
are sent to special hospitals in the country or at the seaside, and are
kept there until, in satisfactory cases, the disease is arrested.