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Dental Treatment. In a disease in which the assimilation of
nourishment is so important it is an essential, if treatment is to be
successful, that the patient should have efficient teeth. For this part of
the work we have had hitherto to depend on the Hospitals, but arrangements
have just been concluded to establish a Dental Clinic at the
Tuberculosis Clinic, where in future our Dentist, Mr. Magraw, will
attend at least fortnightly to carry out any such dental work as is
recommended.
Prevention. The prevention of infection is one of the main objects
of the anti-Tuberculosis work. For this purpose, the Clinic forms part
of and keeps in the closest touch with the Public Health Department.
Disinfections are immediately arranged on the departure of the patient
from the home either to Sanatorium, Hospital or to another residence;
and on notification of the occurrence of a death from Tuberculosis
within the Borough. Stress is laid in visiting on the possibilities of
infection and the necessity for the proper disposal of the sputum. The
isolation of the patient in the home is as far as possible arranged and
contact examination strongly urged. Sputum flasks are distributed free.
Treatment. It is the duty of the Tuberculosis Clinic to see that
every case is receiving suitable and adequate treatment; but only a
limited number of cases are treated at the Clinic, as the object is rather
to arrange for treatment elsewhere so that the main function of the
Clinic, that of the clearing house, may be preserved.
Sanatorium. Sanatorium treatment is arranged mainly through
the London County Council. During the year 157 cases were admitted
to Sanatoria through the L.C.C. Of these 27 cases were re-admissions.
Admission to private Sanatoria was arranged in three cases.
Every new case in which a positive diagnosis is made, is referred
to the Secretary of the After Care Committee, so that the fullest
advantage may be taken of the assistance offered by this Committee.
No specific proven remedy for the disease has yet appeared and
until it does, general hygienic measures must still be our chief bulwark.
Changes in staff during the year often called for additional effort to
tide over the inter-regna which these involved, and I desire to record
my most sincere thanks to every member of the staff for their ready
assistance in carrying out the work entrusted to us.
J. A. Harbison, M.D.