Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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Case 3. A B., notified by the Dispensary on December 9th, was found occupying the same
bed with her husband. Provided separate bed and arranged for patient to sleep in a room hitherto
unoccupied.
Case 4. H. W. B., when notified in October, occupied a separate bed, but stated he would have
to sleep with wife and children in the winter months, since the bed-clothes were insufficient for
two beds in cold weather. Bedding provided.
Case 5. C. B., an early case, provided with bed and open-air shelter on discharge from
Sanatorium.
Open-Air Shelters.—Three open-air shelters provided at the Council's expense, have been
lent to consumptives.
Case 1. C. B. provided with shelter on discharge from Sanatorium vide Case 5 above.
Case 2. G. A., age 20, was notified by Dispensary on June 10th, and visited by the Council's
inspector on June 14tn, when he was found occupying a small back room with his two younger
brothers. Open-air shelter provided, from which patient has derived great benefit.
Case 3. In this case two brothers, aged 14 and 1(J years, were both notified by the Dispensary
as suffering from consumption, and were found to be sleeping in separate beds in a small bedroom.
Shelter provided with great benefit, and slept in during heavy snow falls early in 1912.
Open-air shelters are also provided by the Tuberculosis Dispensary, and are referred to on
pp. 45, 40, of the Medical Officer's Report for 1910, in the following^passages: " Some ten shelters
have now been constructed for us, most of which are in use All three patients
mentioned in last year's report . . . have now slept outside in their back yards for nearly two
years." The patients mentioned reside in Paddington, and open-air shelters have not in any
instance been provided by the Dispensary at addresses in Kensington. The use of common yards
by several families, objections on the part of landlords or patients, and other circumstances, render
it on the whole improbable that the provision of shelters, in any considerable number of cases, will
be found feasible.
Sanatorium Treatment.—In accordance with the terms of the resolution quoted, one bed
has been retained by the Council for a period of 12 months from May 1st, 1911, in the Maitland
Sanatorium, with the option of securing such other beds (to the number of five) as may from time
to time De available. Patients are not recommended for admission unless they are likely to derive
substantial benefit from sanatorium treatment, and this end is secured in two ways. In the first
place every applicant is required to forward a medical certificate to the Medical Superintendent of
the Sanatorium, and unless the certificate is, in the opinion of the Superintendent, satisfactory, the
patient is not admitted. In the second place the Dispensary Medical Officer has kindly consented
to provide the necessary certificate, which is not accepted from other quarters unless the circumstances
are exceptional. The Lady Sanitary Inspectors or the Dispensary Committee also arrange that no
case shall be sent until due provision has been made for the patient's dependents during his absence
and for after care on his return.
During the 8 months between May 1st and December 31st, 1911, four cases have been
admitted.
Case 1. C. B., male, age 30 years, a wood machinist, was admitted on June 17th, with slight
infiltration at the apices of both lungs, and stayed for two months. On discharge the patient's
progress was described as "Very good," and his walking capacity as 9-10 miles. He has been
provided with a bed and an open-air shelter, and is in regular work.
Case 2. A. G., male, age 33 years, a postman, was admitted on November 29th, with
infiltration of upper lobe of left lung. The Post Office continued to pay his wages during his stay
in the Sanatorium. He was discharged on February 21st, after staying 12 weeks. Progress
reported as excellent. Walking capacity 9-10 miles. Work—capable of hard work C grade. Has
been in regular work since, and lives with windows of room wide open night and day.
Case 3. H. H., male, age 49, a house painter, was admitted on May 4th. A moderately
advanced case. Upper lobe and apex lower lobe of both lungs affected. The patient had been
out of work through ill-health for 5 months before admission to the Sanatorium. Report on
discharge, "not much progress, except in weight, and little prospect of permanent arrest." In spite
of this unfavourable report, the patient obtained employment on his discharge, after 6 weeks
treatment, and was at work on March 26th, 1912. although far from well.