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present and 354 gave negative results. Of the 140 new cases with respiratory tuberculosis there
were 91 showing tubercle bacilli present (65 per cent.) and 49 had a negative sputum (35 per cent.).
These figures show a slight improvement on last year's results, when 69.6 per cent. of the new
cases had a positive sputum. There were also made during the year three examinations of discharge
from the ears of patients, all of which were found to contain tubercle bacilli, also two examinations
of pus extracted from neck glands, one giving a positive result and the other a negative one.

The number of patients on the Dispensary Register on 31st December, 1926, was 1,253, whilst
at the beginning of the year they numbered 1,303.
Residential Institutional Treatment.
Under the scheme for the treatment of tuberculosis in London, the London County Council
provide all the beds required for residential institutional treatment except those available in Poor
Law Infirmaries.
When the Tuberculosis Officer is of the opinion that a patient should be admitted to a sanatorium,
appropriate recommendations are forwarded to the County Medical Officer of Health, who,
in due course, informs the patient, the Tuberculosis Officer and the Borough Tuberculosis Care
Committee of the sanatorium where a bed is available and the date on which the patient should
present himself for admission.
St. Mary Abbot's Hospital.
The Kensington Board of Guardians provide at St. Mary Abbot's Hospital a ward containing
26 beds for male patients and a ward of 22 beds for female patients who are suffering from respiratory
tuberculosis. The latter ward has a good verandah with awnings where, whenever possible, patients
receive open air treatment. The beds are used for (1) emergency cases requiring immediate
institutional treatment whether or not sanatorium treatment is subsequently to be provided, (2
advanced cases where the home conditions do not permit of proper isolation and (3) patients who are
not able to obtain adequate nursing attention at home.
No special provision is made at the hospital for non-respiratory cases but these are admitted
to the surgical wards when necessary.
Dr. Picard, the Tuberculosis Officer, has continued to act as Visiting Medical Officer to StMary
Abbot's Hospital and has paid weekly visits to that institution throughout the year. The
Tuberculosis Officer has arranged the admission of some cases from the Dispensary to the St. Mary
Abbot's Hospital and certain cases admitted to the hospital from other sources have been transferred
by him after due observation to various sanatoria provided by the London County Council.
The linking up of the Council's Dispensary with the Tuberculosis Wards of the St. Mary
Abbot's Hospital has proved of considerable value both from the curative and preventive aspect and,
on behalf of the Tuberculosis Officer and myself, I desire to thank Dr. Remington Hobbs, Medical
Superintendent of the Hospital, for the valuable assistance we have received from him and his
Assistant Medical Officers.