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2.5 in 1913. Five of the patients died in sanatoria. In addition to the
40, 8 insured persons have had hospital treatment, the average duration
of stay in hospital being 2.8 months. Two patients had both sanatorium
and hospital treatment.
Seven uninsured persons received open-air sanatorium institutional
treatment under the London County Council scheme for the uninsured.
The average duration of stay in a sanatorium was 2.4 months. In
addition, 2 cases had treatment in Brompton Hospital; average stay, 4
months.
Compared with previous years, the amount of open-air sanatorium
treatment provided for pulmonary tuberoulosis cases under the Insurance
Committee and the London Connty Council has been exceptionally good.
The number of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis visited in the
course of the year was 105, and of non-pulmonary cases 15. The total
number of visits paid in respect of all cases of tuberculosis was 596.
Five patients were lent beds and bedding by the Borough Council,
and 18 pocket spittoons were given away. Sixteen contacts were sent for
medical examination: 7 to Brompton Hospital, of whom 3 were found to
be tuberculous; and 9 to St. George's Hospital, of whom 5 were found
to be tuberculous.
Twenty-two new cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were notified
in 1915, 11 being children under 15 years and 11 adults. Thirteen cases
were helped to obtain proper surgical treatment in hospitals, and 8 were
sent to country or seaside homes. As in previous years, a great deal of
this work was carried out by the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Ten cases of cerebrospinal meningitis were notified in Chelsea in
1915, 5 of the cases proving fatal. Seven of the cases were under 15
years of age ; 9 cases were removed to hospital.
Three cases of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) were notified in
Chelsea in 1915—a girl of 2 years and 2 baby boys of 8 and 10 months.
All 3 children were attending as out-patients at the Victoria Hospital.
The illnesses were mild, and no permanent paralysis ensued.
Twelve cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified in Chelsea in
1915, and an additional 14 cases of eye trouble in infants, which were not
notified, were visited by the Woman Sanitary Inspector. Of these 26
cases, 17 made complete recoveries; 6 were left with some eye weakness;
in 1 case the eyesight was permanently injured, involving more or less
blindness; in another case the infant died; and one was removed out of
the Borough. Steps were taken in every case to insure that the affected
eyes received appropriate treatment.
Five cases of puerperal fever were notified in Chelsea in 1915, as
compared with 8 in 1914. One case ended fatally. Two of the cases
were attended in their confinements by medical practitioners and 3 by
midwives. Three of the cases were removed from their homes to
hospitals.
Whooping cough caused 8 deaths in 1915, as compared with 7 in
1914. Five of the fatal cases were of infants under 1 year. The schools
notified 55 children as suffering from this disease, and 16 contacts were
also excluded from school attendance.