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104
Report of the Tuberculosis Dispensary for the Year 1930.
During the year 63 new cases and 83 contacts were examined. Of these 15
of the former and five of the latter were found to be suffering from tuberculosis.
Of the new cases, the largest group of those suspected of tuberculosis, but afterwards considered not to be infected, were those suffering from debility, and in
some instances showing evidence of myocarditis, following influenza.
The number of deaths was 14 as compared with 24 in the previous year. Six
patients, two adult males and four adult females, were removed from the register
as cured.
As in previous years the local medical practitioners have made good use of
the dispensary; and the dispensary has made good use of University College
Hospital. It is also a pleasure to acknowledge again the invaluable help received
in numerous ways from the Tuberculosis Care Committee.
A survey of the results of the examination of the contacts of 328 cases of
tuberculosis during the last seven years shows that, of 515 contacts examined, 20 or
4 per cent. were found to be tuberculous. These cases would have escaped notice,
at least for some time, had it not been for these routine examinations. Additional
light from another angle is thrown on the importance of the familial factor in
tuberculosis by an investigation of the family histories of patients suffering from
pulmonary tuberculosis. The records of 246 cases were studied, in 195 of which
tubercle bacilli had been found in the sputum, while in 51 the sputum examination had been negative. A history of pulmonary tuberculosis in the immediate
family was found in 59, or 30 per cent., of the former, and in 27, or 52 per cent.,
of the latter. Such figures as these lend cogency to Karl Pearson's insistence
on the inheritability of the tuberculous diathesis. It must not, however, be
forgotten that a child of tuberculous parents, in addition to inheriting poor powers
of resistance to tuberculous infection is also unduly exposed to such infection in
early years.
Report of the Tuberculosis Care Committee for 1930.
The Committee has met 11 times during the year. The average attendance
of members at each meeting has been 7.45. In February the time of meeting was
altered from the third Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. to the second Tuesday of
tho month at 4.30 p.m.
Seventy-one cases have been considered—37 new (32 adults and five children)
and 34 old cases (27 adults and seven children).
Forty-two cases—37 adults and five children—were referred to the Committee
for assessment. Twenty-one were assessed to pay contributions varying from
2s. 6d. to 30s. per week towards the cost of their treatment and maintenance.
Four cases were reconsidered owing to subsequent changes in their circumstances
and the assessments reduced. Eighteen adults and three children were
recommended for free treatment.
Contributions towards the cost of treatment and maintenance, amounting to
£165. 13s. 6d., were collected on behalf of the London County Council in 27 cases
—20 adults and seven children; 11 of these were still under treatment at the close