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Classification of new Patients.
(a) Pulmonary Tuberculosis. During 1934, 217 patients who
attended the Dispensary for the first time and were found to be
suffering from tuberculosis were reported by the Tuberculosis Officer
to be in the undermentioned stages of the disease at the time of
diagnosis:-
T.B. minus (sputum negative or absent) 69, or 31,8 per cent.
T.B. plus 1 (early cases, sputum positive) 13, or 6.0 per cent.
T.B. plus 2 (intermediate cases, positive) 114, or 52.5 per cent.
T.B. plus 3 (advanced cases, sputum positive) 21, or 9.7 per cent.
(6) Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis. There were 38 new cases of
non-pulmonary tuberculosis in the following forms: —
Bones, joints and spine.
Peripheral glands.
Abdomen.
Skin.
Other organs.
The Necessity for Early Treatment to Ensure the Prospects
of Recovery.
Under the L.C.C. Residential Institutional Scheme patients
suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis are, as a rule, sent away
within two weeks of application. Children suffering from tuberculosis
of joints are, if possible, sent away the day the diagnosis is
made.
Information as to Special Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment
in Use and the Number of Persons to whom these
Special Methods have been Applied.
We have placed chief reliance on accurate history taking,
careful reading of symptons, temperature charting and pulse study,
physical examination and repeated sputum testing in tubercle
negative cases. When the above methods are not neglected in the
diagnosis of a case the use of X-rays is of the highest value. Special
arrangements exist with King's College Hospital for X-ray examination
of dispensary patients. During 1934, 577 patients were
sent to King's College Hospital for X-ray examination. All our
patients while under Residential treatment were X-rayed on various
occasions. The same applies to A.P. cases.
Artificial pneumothorax treatment is available for suitable
dispensary cases and may be carried out while the patient is in a
residential institution or later while on home treatment. By
arrangement artificial pneumothorax treatment can be given at
the following hospitals to patients who are on general treatment
at home: Brompton, St. Thomas's, Guy's, Grove Park and Colindale.
During 1934, 50 dispensary patients had artificial pneumothorax
treatment at one or the other of these hospitals. This does not