View report page

74
Artificial Pneumo-thorax Treatment.
The offer made by the County Council and referred to under
the previous heading also extended to artificial pneumo-thorax
refills, which the Tuberculosis Officers were permitted to undertake
(without charge) at St. James's Hospital.
From 12th October onwards, therefore, the Tuberculosis Officer
attended at that hospital and himself carried out the artificial
pneumo-thorax treatment for which patients had previously to
visit various institutions. Only patients who had not previously
received this form of treatment, however, were sent to St. James's
Hospital, the others continuing to visit the hospital they were
already attending.
In all 48 patients were treated during the year (as compared
with 42 in 1935) and the refills given numbered 670, the numbers
at each of the hospitals being as under:—
Brompton Hospital 414 Grove Park Hospital (L.C.C.) 30
St. Thomas's Hospital 91 St. George's Hospital 4
Colindale Hospital (L.C.C.) 28 St. James's Hospital 103
Two sessions for this treatment are held weekly at St. James's
Hospital, one being an evening session.
The cost incurred by the Council in regard to the 40 patients
sent to hospitals other than St. James's amounted to £297 13s. 6d.
as compared with £288 4s. 6d. in 1935.
Examinations and Reports.
Bacteriological examinations made during the year numbered
924, 288 of the specimens examined coming from medical practitioners.
The number of positive results was 196, or 21.2 per cent.
Reports to public bodies numbered 1,088.
Consultations with medical practitioners at the homes of
patients and reports made on patients sent to the Dispensary
totalled 816, while reports received in respect of insured persons
on form G.P. 36 numbered 133.
There were 429 patients referred to hospitals, including 401
for X-ray examination.
Artificial Sunlight Treatment.
During the year 12 Dispensary patients received treatment
at the Council's artificial sunlight treatment centre at Southlands
(vide page 47). In 5 cases treatment was completed, the usual
period of treatment being from three to four months, and in 5 cases
definite improvement was reported.
The work is carried out by one of the Dispensary nurses under
the direction of the Tuberculosis Medical Officer.