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bronchitis, debility or anaemia, could be referred to the Tuberculosis
Officer for an opinion.
The London County Council has continued the arrangement,
whereby the Tuberculosis Officers act as honorary consultants to
St. Olave's Hospital. In cases of urgency, and an early case of
pulmonary tuberculosis must be regarded as an urgent problem,
immediate admission to hospital can be effected, with a view to
transfer to sanatorium at a later stage. The visits of the Tuberculosis
Officers have also been of considerable assistance in pursuading
patients suffering from advanced disease to acquiesce in
prolonged periods of hospital treatment, thus reducing the risks of
infection at home. Attendance at the hospital is also invaluable
to the Tuberculosis Officers who are enabled to see, and discuss
with other medical men, patients under observation and treatment
in hospital. On page 43 is a table showing the work done at the
dispensary during the year.
The examination of contacts is an essential part of the work
and efforts are being continued to secure a yearly examination of
each contact for approximately five years after the original exposure
to infection.
Artificial pneumothorax refills have been continued at the
dispensary (during the year 714 refills were given), and the results
obtained in early cases continue to prove the efficacy of this form
of treatment. An evening clinic is held for those patients who
are at work.
NURSING AND EXTRA NOURISHMENT.
The aid of the District Nursing Associations has been enlisted
in 55 cases during the year. Much can be done by careful nursing
to alleviate suffering and improve conditions, and as tuberculosis
is notably a slow disease the average number of visits paid to each
patient is high. During 1936 nearly 3,000 visits were paid
by the district nurses to patients suffering from tuberculosis. In
advanced cases of tuberculosis where the patient is living at
home, it has been our practice for a long time now to arrange for