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At the first visit a printed card of advice is left, and the particulars as to the history, home
surroundings and treatment obtained are subsequently entered on the case sheets containing the
notes of every patient notified. Second visits are paid with the object of obtaining for patients the
treatment they require, and of seeing that the advice given is carried out. 144 sputum cups have
been purchased by the Council during the year for the use of consumptives. The greater number
of these cups have been distributed at the Tuberculosis Dispensary; the remainder have been taken
to the homes of consumptive patients by the Lady Inspectors.
For the purpose of preventing the spread of infection in families, additional bedsteads with
bedding are provided by the Council free of charge, and offered to those who need them by the
Lady Inspectors. At the end of the year 14 of the Council's beds were in use. In the following
cases four new beds were supplied, and seven returned beds were lent again to fresh patients after
disinfection: —
1. To E.F., sleeping with her daughter.
2. To W.S., sleeping with wife and child.
3. To E.B., sleeping with husband and child.
4. To F.B., sleeping with two sisters.
5. To J.S., sleeping with husband and child.
6. To M.G., sleeping with mother and sister.
7. To R.C., to sleep in shelter.
8. To F.T., sleeping with two brothers.
9. To S., sleeping with another.
10. To N.C., sleeping four in one bed.
11. To L.S., sleeping with two others.
In three other cases additional bedding was lent to enable the family to use their second
bedstead.
The Tuberculosis Dispensary.—During the year 1914 consumptive persons residing in
the Borough to the north of Kensington High Street received treatment at the Tuberculosis
Dispensary, 119 Ladbroke Grove. The institution is under voluntary management, but the
Committee includes members of the Borough Council and the Board of Guardians. Provision is
made for the medical examination of contacts and the visiting of patients in their homes, both by
the Medical Officers and by the Dispensary Nurses. Co-operation with the Public Health
Department and various voluntary agencies has been secured by the weekly meeting of Case
Committees, which are attended by representatives of voluntary societies and by the Council's Lady
Inspectors or Medical Officer of Health.
The Board of Guardians.—Important work is carried out by the Board of Guardians in
the admission to the Infirmary of advanced and highly infectious cases of consumption. Wards axe
set apart with accommodation for some 60 consumptives, and from the notifications received it
would appear that 180 phthisical patients were admitted from homes in Kensington during the
year. That many of these patients were in the last and most infectious stages of the disease may be
inferred from the fact that 78 deaths from phthisis occurred in the Infirmary during the year.
The Insurance Committee.—During the year 93 insured consumptives were sent from
Kensington by the Insurance Committee for the County of London to residential institutions for
the treatment of consumption.
Dispensary Scheme of Council.—The Council's scheme for the Dispensary treatment of
patients at the Brompton Hospital and the Kensington Tuberculosis Dispensary has been approved
by the Local Government Board. Publications of the details will be deferred until the scheme in
its final form has been approved by the London County Council and agreed to by the institutions
concerned, and the Insurance Committee of the County of London.
The London County Council's scheme for sanatorium treatment for non-insured persons came
into force in August last year. Particulars will be deferred till the next annual report.
CANCER.
Cancer caused 253 deaths, and of this number 229 occurred in persons over the age of 45
years. Carcinoma was the form of cancer to which 134 deaths were attributed; sarcoma was the
assigned cause of 14 deaths; 105 deaths were certified as due to cancer or malignant disease without
further definition.