View report page

24
of the latter cases the patients were subsequently induced to make arrangements
to sleep alone. Four beds with the necessary bedding have been
provided for this purpose by the Chelsea Borough Council, and were lent
to necessitous cases during the year, with great advantage to the sufferers.
About three-fifths of the cases visited are found to be able and willing to
carry out sanitary precautions as regards collection and disposal of sputa,
burning of infected rags, having windows open, and keeping the rooms
occupied clean and free from dust and dirt. Fully a quarter of the cases
are somewhat unsatisfactory to deal -with, owing to carelessness and
scepticism as to infection, and the necessity for fresh air and cleanliness.
In nearly every case, however, some improvement is effected as the result
of the visits made.
During the year 1914, 25 cases of notified pulmonary tuberculosis have
been discharged from open air, etc., Sanatoria, in which they had received
institutional treatment as "insured persons," under the sanatorium benefit
provided by the Insurance Committee of the London County Council. The
average duration of stay of these 25 persons in the sanatoria has been 3.2
months, as against only 2.5 months in 1913. Three of the patients died
whilst undergoing sanatorium treatment. Ten of the cases have been
treated at the Downs Sanatorium, 6 at Winchmore Hill, 2 at the Royal Sea
Bathing Hospital, Margate, and one each at various other sanatoria. Five
cases, in addition to the above, have had hospital treatment, the average
duration of stay in hospital being 5.9 months. A good deal of work and
correspondence has been carried on in the Public Health Depatrment in
respect of advising and putting the patients in the way of obtaining sanatorium
benefit, corresponding with panel doctors and the Insurance Committee,
and obtaining grants for extra nourishment for cases in which such
was advised as being ancillary to medical treatment.
No portable open-air shelters or tents have been provided by the Council
for the use of phthisical patients in the Borough.
The number of new cases of phthisis visited in the course of the year
was 154, and of non-pulmonary tuberculosis 44. The total number of
visits paid in respect of pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis was
754.
Eight phthisical patients have been lent beds and bedding by the
Borough Council in the course of the year; 38 pocket spittoons were given
to persons requiring them. Eight out-patient and 2 in-patient letters were
given for Brompton Hospital, and several out-patient letters for the Victoria
Hospital. Two "contacts" of tuberculous cases were sent for medical
examination to the Brompton Hospital, one of these cases being subsequently
notified. Twelve "contacts" were sent for examination to the
Tuberculin Dispensary, No. 1, Manor-street, about half of these cases being
subsequently notified.
Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
The majority of cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis notified were
children. Of 38 cases about which fairly full information was obtained as
the result of home visits, 16 were helped to obtain proper surgical