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60
Institutional Treatment.
The number of patients who received institutional treatment
under the L.C.C. Tuberculosis Scheme was 139, and the average
length of stay was 116.4 days. The average period of waiting before
admission was 14 days. Definite improvement as a result of
institutional treatment was shown in 53 cases. Twenty-five patients
discharged themselves while undergoing institutional treatment.
The number of Dispensary patients admitted to the L.C.C. Hospitals
during the year was 44.
Contributions of patients undergoing institutional treatment
were collected by the Dispensary and remitted to the L.C.C. to the
amount of £683 11s. 6d.
Examinations and Reports.
Sputum examinations made during the year numbered 1,332,
of which 440 were received from medical practitioners, and 278
from St. James's Hospital. The number of positive examinations
was 267 or 20 per cent.
Reports to public bodies were made to the number of 998.
Consultations with medical practitioners at the houses of
patients and reports made on patients sent to the Dispensary
totalled 823, while reports received in respect of insured persons
numbered 99 (Form G.P. 36, 98, form G.P. 17, 1).
There were 136 patients referred to hospitals, including 129 sent
to St. Thomas's for X-ray examination.
Artificial Sunlight Treatment.
During the year 7 patients (4 children, 3 adults) received treatment
for surgical tuberculosis at the Council's artificial sunlight
treatment centre at Southlands (vide page 44). In 2 cases treatment
was completed, and the 5 remaining were still under treatment at
the end of the year. The average period of treatment in the 2
completed cases was 69 days, and the result of the treatment in
these cases is shown on p. 117.
The work is carried out by one of the Dispensary nurses under
the direction of the Tuberculosis Medical Officer.
In the Appendix (pages 129 to 132) will be found Form T. 145,
which contains the returns required by the Ministry of Health
of the work of the Dispensary during the year 1931, and Form T.
145a, which shows in a summarised form the condition of all patients
whose case records were in possession of the Dispensary at the end
of 1931, arranged according to the years (from 1921 to 1931) in
which the patients first came under public medical treatment for
pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis.