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During 1937 20 tuberculous families living in the Borough
received improved housing accommodation from the London County
Council. There were also two open shelters in use by patients
living and sleeping out of doors.
The Necessity for Early Treatment to Ensure the Prospects
of Recovery.
Under the London County Council Residential Institutional
Scheme patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis are, as a
rule, sent away within two weeks of application.
Information as to Special Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment
in Use and the Number of Persons to whom these
Special Methods have been Applied.
By experience it has been found that X-rays and repeated
sputum examination are essential for accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis
in its early stage and throughout the year more and more
use was made of the facilities available. During the 10 months
expiring at October 31st last, 600 patients were examined by X-ray
at King's College Hospital under a previous arrangement. As from
Nov. Ist the facilities at St. Giles' Hospital were placed at the disposal
of the Council under the L.C.C. treatment of tuberculosis
scheme for the X-ray examinations of all patients and contacts
referred to the X-ray department by the Tuberculosis Officer—151
such examinations were made in November and December making
a total of 751 for the year.
The facilities at St. Giles' Hospital are very satisfactory and it is
now only in special circumstances that a case does not receive the
benefit of an X-ray examination at that Hospital. The Tuberculosis
Officer receives all films at the Dispensary and they are
interpreted and reported on by him. All patients while under
residential treatment were X-rayed on various occasions. The
same applies to artificial pneumothorax 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 receiving general treatment
at home: —Brompton, St. Thomas's, Guy's, Grove Park, Colindale
King's College Hospital, St. Giles'. During 1937, 69 dispensary
patients had artificial pneumothorax treatment at one or the other
of these hospitals. This does not include dispensary patients
who were receiving artificial pneumothorax treat ment in a sanatorium
at December 31st, 1937. Again, in November, use was made of the
facilities offered by the London County Council at St. Giles' Hospital
and an artificial pneumothorax refill clinic was established there