London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1925

The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1925

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70
In the Autumn of 1924 the dentist who was then carrying out this work at the Dispensary
resigned his position under the Council owing to his having left the district and for some weeks no
work was done. The new dentist's attendances have, however, been uninterrupted during the past
twelve months and this fact accounts in some measure for the increased figures for 1925 which are
as follow :—
Dentist's attendances at the Dispensary 40
Individual number of patients treated 56
Patient's attendances 99
Number of fillings 9
Number of extractions 109
Number of dentures arranged for 10
Repairs executed 1
Number of scalings 3
Artificial Pneumothorax Treatment.
Artificial pneumothorax treatment, which can only be adopted at a well-equipped hospital,.
is occasionally recommended in order to stay the progress of somewhat advanced disease.
This treatment is carried out for Kensington residents at the Brompton Hospital at a cost of
10s. 6d. for each administration. Treatment is given fortnightly in the early stages, and thereafter
less frequently as the case progresses, the whole period of treatment generally occupying about
two years.
The ordinary poor patient cannot, of course, afford this treatment and, in order that he shall
not be precluded from its benefits, the Council have undertaken to bear the cost in suitable cases.
When the Lady Almoner of the Hospital considers that a patient is unable to pay, she asks
the Council to accept financial responsibility. These applications are placed before the Tuberculosis
Care Committee who investigate the home conditions and financial circumstances and
make appropriate recommendations to the Public Health Committee.
During the year the Council undertook to pay for artificial pneumothorax treatment in 5 cases
and payments to Brompton Hospital amounted to £10 10s. Od.
Light Treatment.
The Council are prepared to accept financial responsibility in suitable cases for " light " treatment,
which is applied to cases of lupus and surgical tuberculosis at the general hospitals in
London.
The usual charge for this treatment is 5s. Od. per exposure.
No applications were received during the year under review in respect of this facility.
Home Nursing.
The arrangements made by the Council for nursing in the homes of the poor to be carried
out by the Kensington District Nursing Association provides for the home nursing of tuberculosis.
The Association is represented upon the Tuberculosis Care Committee and in this manner
provision is made for co-operation between the two bodies.

The cases of tuberculosis attended and the visits paid by the Nurses of the Association during the past five years are shown in the following table:—

Year.Cases.Visits.
1921321,060
192241996
192339638
192435575
192536614

The nurses carry out their work splendidly and are very much appreciated by the poor.
Supply of Extra Nourishment to Tuberculous Persons.
Applications for the supply of extra nourishment to tuberculous persons are dealt with by
the Tuberculosis Care Committee. In the administration of this assistance the principle that
temporary assistance only shall be given is followed.
The assistance given is generally one pint of milk and one new-laid egg daily and covers a
period of one month, the patients having to make an application for the renewal of the grant if
desired.