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36
RHEUMATISM.
During the year the Council continued their grant to
the West London Hospital in connection with the treatment
of rheumatism.
The Department of Chronic Rheumatic Diseases was
opened in 1938. At the outbreak of war in 1939 it was
considered to be impossible to continue the work of the
Clinic owing to the mobilisation for war service of members
of the medical staff. In April, 1940, however, arrangements
were made to resume work with one session weekly.
After a time the demand on the services of the Clinic was
such that two sessions per week were found necessary. The
experience of the Clinic—the distress which was caused by
its temporary closing, and the constant increase in the
number of its patients since it was re-opened—show that,
under the stress of war conditions, there is even greater
need than in peace for the provision of effective means for
treatment for rheumatic sufferers.
During the year 53 new Hammersmith patients were
seen at the Clinic, and a total of 292 attendances were
recorded.