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9
Prevention of Consumption.—So far as preventive measures against tuberculosis
are concerned it is probably sufficient to say that during 1916 the council's scheme
took more definite shape, and despite the fact that all the official consents necessary
were not formally given, a beginning was made. At the beginning of April Miss
Baker gave up general health visiting and inspecting work and devoted herself
entirely to tuberculosis; visiting notified cases, arranging for contacts, and, if
necessary, patients to attend at the dispensaries, attending clinics, particularly those
at Middlesex Hospital and Margaret Street Hospital, and arranging for the removal
of those who required sanatorium and hospital treatment.
By the end of the year the scheme was working very smoothly, and it is
largely because of the fact that Miss Baker has proved acceptable both to the
patients and to the authorities at the various institutions that it is possible to say so.
Though it is really impossible to represent by means of figures, the exact
amount of work done and the effect which has followed it, the following statistics
with regard to visits paid and patients examined may be useful and interesting. The
number of visits paid by Miss Baker was 1,718.
The consultations at Middlesex Hospital were attended 65 times, and those at
Margaret Street 49 times, between April 1st, when the work commenced, and the
end of the year. Attendances at Allsop Place were fewer (27), the tuberculosis
nurse at that dispensary being generally in attendance. The Interim Care
Committee, which meets fortnightly at Allsop Place, was attended on 23 occasions.
Of the new patients visited, 95 were insured, 132 non-insured. Amongst the patients
were included 5 discharged soldiers. As regards sanatorium treatment, Miss Baker
was concerned in obtaining admission for 14 children, 35 insured and 24 uninsured
persons, obtaining amongst other information all that related to the condition of the
patient's home-surroundings.
All contacts from the homes of patients were referred for examination to the
various institutions included in the scheme.
At Allsop Place 382 patients were examined. Of these, 125 were found to be
suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, 128 were suspected, and 15 had some other
form of tuberculosis. Of the patients examined, 189 were under 16, and 30 (15.3
per cent.) were consumptive. Of patients above 16, 95 (54.4 per cent.) were found
to be suffering. The total number of insured persons examined was 116.
The total attendances at the Dispensary numbered 3,498; the Medical Officer
paid 1,228 visits, and the nurse 1,033. Of the total number of cases, 41 were
referred from the Public Health Department.
The total number of patients examined under the scheme from April 1st to
December 31st at the various institutions was 201. Of these, 51 were found to be
suffering, and 76 were "suspected." Patients found to be suffering from other
forms of tuberculosis than the pulmonary numbered 10. The total number of
insured amongst the patients was 33.
Deaths from Phthisis.—The table given below shows the number of deaths
certified as due to consumption, and compares the figure for 1916 (151) with those
of preceding years. The death rate was 1.5 per 1,000. Of those who died 80 were
insured and 71 uninsured.