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46
Insanitary Housing Conditions.
The number of insanitary houses occupied by tuberculous
patients, reported to the Medical Officer of Health as a result
of inspections made by the Tuberculosis Officer's nursing staff,
was 228.
Bacteriological Examinations.
The number of specimens of sputum examined for the
presence of the tubercle bacillus was 691, as compared with
466 in 1920. In 152 (i.e., 22 per cent.) of the specimens
examined the bacillus was found to be present.
Institutional Treatment.
During the year 97 Dispensary patients received sanatorium
treatment, the average interval of waiting for admission being
22 days, and 12 cases in an advanced stage of the disease were
admitted to the Colindale Hospital. The Tuberculosis Officer
refers to the disappointing results of sanatorium treatment in
the majority of cases.
""Most of the patients," he points out, "show improvement
in their general condition on discharge from the
sanatorium, but in a majority this improvement is not maintained,
and the patients lose ground more or less quickly after
they return to their homes." I quite concur in the views
expressed in this connection by Dr. Macdonald, and it is not
difficult to understand the causes responsible for this unfortunate
aspect of sanatorium treatment as at present carried out.
The main defects of the present system are (1) that the patients
selected are frequently unsuitable cases, (2) duration of
sanatorium treatment too short, (3) return to unsuitable home
conditions on discharge.
Day Sanatorium or Open-Air School
The open-air school at Springwell House, Clapham
Common North Side, receives a large number of children
daily, the larger proportion (about 60 per cent.) being Battersea
children. The school is housed in a large converted mansion,
with a fine garden at the rear, where the children receive instruction,
except in bad weather, in the open air. The school is
under the administrative control of the London County Council,
but with the consent of the Borough Council, the services of
the Tuberculosis Officer (Dr. Macdonald) and one of the
Dispensary nurses are being utilised by the County Council in
medically supervising the children, the former to the extent of
one half-day a week, and the latter as to three-fourths of her
time, for which the County Council contribute part of these