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the Radiologist, the Dentist, and the Pathologist. This arrangement enables
us to make a complete investigation of a case with the least possible loss
of time.
The number of cases referred to the Radiologist may tend to increase,
as the London County Council has now removed its restriction that three
sputum tests should be made in all cases before the help of X-rays is sought.
The opening of the new X-ray department of the Hospital affords us increased
facilities, and patients may now be X-rayed during the session.
Previously, in order to view our X-ray films, we had to go to the
X-ray department, as we had no viewing-cabinet of our own. This arrangement
was unsatisfactory both to us and to the Radiographer, who was often
busy with other cases, but has been remedied by the provision of a most
efficient viewing-cabinet for our own use, which has already proved a great
convenience.
The various charitable organizations in the district continue to support
us in many ways. The Invalid Children's Aid Association, in particular,
is most helpful, and has sent a large number of our debilitated children to
convalescent homes either at the seaside or in the country. The Charity
Organization Society and the United Services Fund have assisted in supplying
surgical instruments, dentures, clothing, etc., and have frequently found
accommodation for children while their mothers are receiving sanatorium
treatment. These children are usually boarded out with private families
or sent to some residential school, so that their education is interfered with
as little as possible.
One hundred and eighty-two cases were admitted through the L.C.C.
to Hospital or sanatorium during the year. The period between the date
of recommendation and that of the patient's admission is shorter, and fewer
cases than formerly are refused admission. There is still, however, insufficient
accommodation for the advanced case, and in view of the prospective
change in Poor Law administration it is doubtful if anything will be done
in this direction at present. It is to be hoped, however, that among the
many reforms contemplated this most urgently needed institution—a local
home for advanced cases—will not be lost sight of. In the Borough of
Hackney the problem of the advanced case is to a large extent solved, as
the Borough Council accepts responsibility for those cases refused by the
L.C.C. and will arrange for their admission to Hospital, and, moreover,
when the home conditions of a patient are such that he is a danger to
others, will, in view of its powers under their special act, compulsorily
remove him.
The L.C.C. scheme for the boarding-out of children of advanced cases
whose home conditions are unsatisfactory is still in operation, but only rarely
are we successful in persuading parents to surrender their children to
strangers in a home which they have never seen and which they are discouraged
from visiting.
The problem of securing suitable employment for patients on their discharge
from sanatorium is still an acute one. Unless the original work and
conditions are definitely unsuitable and objectionable it is found from experience
that it is better for a man to return to his former occupation in
which he has probably already attained proficiency. Patients who are able
to do so entail little worry, as they usually return to posts under their
former employers, but the chief cause of anxiety is the man who must seek