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More would have been sent had accommodation been
available, and on this account treatment was confined to children.
The average number of treatments remains about the same, viz.,
20, but many received longer treatment.
As reported before, gland cases (adenitis) did best and
glands with discharging sinuses best of all. Where the glands
are not broken down improvement is slow.
The most noticeable result, however, is the feeling of
well-being experienced by most of the patients after their light
bath, and perhaps the most satisfactory evidence on this point
is the unsolicited testimony of the mothers themselves, who
quite frequently inform the nurse how much brighter and resitful
their children are after treatment. The school teachers also
remark on the increased mental activity shown by these children.
Occupation.—As indicated last year, there are no industries
in the Borough which have any special bearing upon the Incidence
of Tuberculosis, and the occupations of notified cases in 1927
show no marked difference to those quoted last year.
Housing.—The Housing condition presents little improvement
and much overcrowding exists, many examples continue to be
brought to the notice of the Public Health Committee by the
Care Committee. It follows that the sleeping arrangements
continue a very serious difficulty in the problems of infection.
Of 214 patients suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis :
134 were sharing a bed.
35 had a separate bed but not a separate room.
45 had a separate room and a separate bed.
As a result of much persuasion and perseverance on the part
of the Tuberculosis nurses and the Care Committee, 12 patients
who were sharing a bed have now separate beds, and 3 patients,
who each shared a bed with three others, have had their sleeping
arrangements so altered as to have only one partner: not an ideal
arrangement, but the best that could be done under the circumstances,
and a great improvement on the original state as found
by the nurses.
Apart from overcrowding, many sanitary defects have been
reported to and dealt with by the Public Health Department.
The eight shelters are in constant use. Bedsteads and
bedding have been lent or supplied by the Council and other
agencies. (See Report of Care Committee).