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Seaside Homes.—Amongst the most interesting of the Board's institutions, I rank the
Children's Homes—"Millfield," at Rustington, near Littlehampton, and East Cliff House,
Margate. The Homes are for children "requiring either special treatment during convalescence,
or the benefit of seaside air—including children suffering from tubercular diseases
of bones, joints, or glands, and pulmonary phthisis." Millfield Home, to which medical
cases of tuberculosis are sent, was improved last year "by the provision of a sun room
and new verandahs, 8 feet wide, projecting from dormitories on the first floor of two
of the blocks," with provision thereon of 18 beds for outdoor sleeping. This is said to
"materially contribute" to the facilities for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Children
"rapidly become accustomed to sleeping in the open, and do not appear in any way to suffer
from this apparent exposure; the balconies only being closed for extreme stress of weather."
East Cliff' Home "accommodates all cases of tubercular bones and glands, including
many requiring operative treatment." A verandah facing south, and fitted with 35 beds, is
in constant use all the year round. The results of treatment at these institutions is most
satisfactory; the pity of it is that the benefits of the Managers' care for sufferers from
tuberculosis should be limited to persons under the age of 16 years.
It is stated that more use was made of the convalescent fever hospitals than in any
previous year, and that it is the settled policy of the Board to use them, in future, in the fullest
practicable extent, by transferring patients at the earliest possible date from the acute
hospitals.
Gore Farm Hospitals.—These institutions,"Upper" and "Lower," erected for the reception
of convalescent small-pox patients, have long ceased to be used for that purpose, and in June,
1903, the Managers adopted a recommendation of the Hospitals Committee to the effect—
"That in view of the accommodation for small-pox now possessed by the Board at
Long Reach and Joyce Green, the Gore Farm Hospital is no longer reckoned as a
small-pox hospital."
A further resolution was passed, in July last, to the effect—
"That until the further orders of the Hospitals Committee, the Upper Hospital
at Gore Farm, Dartford, be regarded as a part of the Board's permanent provision for
convalescing fever patients, in conjunction with the Lower Gore Farm Hospital, if and
when the Lower Hospital should be required."
The Upper Hospital, which contains 961 beds, was re-opened in July, 1905; it received 6,268
patients in 1906, of whom 6,071 were discharged. The year began with 648 inmates; the
maximum number (994) was attained on 13th December, and at the end of the year 841
remained. The admissions of scarlet fever were 5,883, and of diphtheria 384. Four deaths
took place, three from scarlet-fever and one from diphtheria. The Lower Hospital, which contains
851 beds, has never yet been brought into use for any purpose.
These are the hospitals which the deputation to the Board, organised by the Society of
Medical Officers of Health (Metropolitan Branch) in April, 1905, recommended for use
as sanatoria for the isolation and treatment of persons suffering from consumption.
The Southern, Hospital, at Carshalton, intended for the reception of convalescent fever
patients, was handed over to the Hospitals Committee last year. A special committee has
been appointed to consider and report as to the best use bo which it could be put. The "best
use" to which, in my humble opinion, it could be put, would be as a sanatorium for the
isolation and treatment of poor persons suffering from consumption; especially as it would appear
not likely to be required for its intended purpose. Including fittings and furniture, the
total cost of the hospital will be about £300,000, or £375 per bed; the accommodation being
for 800 patients.
The Western Hospital, Seagrave Road, Fulham.—The statistics of this institution have a
special interest for the Kensington Sanitary Authority, it being the one to which local
sufferers from fever and diphtheria are removed. The admissions of patients were 3,505
(against 2,668 in 1905), of whom 1,585 were transferred to convalescent hospitals; 1,352
were discharged, and 180 died; 388 patients remaining at the end of the year. Sufferers
from scarlet fever to the number of 2,265 were admitted, of whom 1,463 (=64 per cent.)
were transferred: the case-mortality was 3.27 per cent. Of 896 diphtheria patients, 122
(13 per cent.) were transferred; the case-mortality was 10.03 per cent. Enteric-fever
patients, admissions 92; case-mortality 22.5 per cent. Sufferers from "other diseases" to
the number of 244, were admitted: "the percentage of error in diagnosis was 3.6 for scarlet fever,
16.8 for diphtheria, and 32.5 for enteric fever."
Mistaken Diagnosis.—Of the cases admitted to the fever hospitals, 2,151 (8.3 per cent.)
were, after admission, found not to be suffering from the diseases mentioned in the medical
certificates upon which they were removed to hospital. Scarlet fever was erroneously
certified in 932 cases, diphtheria in 959, enteric fever in 235. The average detention of
these cases was 21.5 days. It is suggested by one of the medical superintendents that "there