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48
It will be seen from the table that 1,856 patients suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis attended during these 10| years, and of these 673 are now dead,
i.e., 36 2 per cent.; 391 have gone to live elsewhere, and some of these
are also known to have died; 161 have been discharged either as "disease
arrested" or "diagnosis not confirmed," and 631 are still on the Dispensary
register. Of the latter, 269 are well and at work, 276 are in fair health,
and 86 are unwell and unfit for work.
The Tuberculosis Officer paid 335 visits at the homes of patients, and
visited 9 patients in consultation with their medical attendants.
The London County Council admitted 202 patients to residential institutions.
The Lewisham Hospital admitted 50 patients recommended by the Tuberculosis
Officer, these being either advanced cases living under unsuitable home
conditions or acute cases requiring immediate treatment. Some of them were
afterwards transferred to L.C.C. institutions.
The Dispensary is affiliated to King's College Hospital and to the Miller
General Hospital, and during the year four laryngeal cases were sent to
King's College Hospital for reports and four cases to the Miller, one for
light treatment and three for X-ray diagnosis.
Three cases of lupus were treated by Finsen light at the London Hospital.
Eleven selected cases were treated by artificial pneumo-thorax induction at
Brompton Hospital, this treatment having been sanctioned by the Borough
Council.
The Borough Council has granted special diet allowance of milk, eggs,
and butter to 15 necessitous patients. Thirty-two patients have, with the
sanction of the Borough Council, received dental treatment at the British
Dental Hospital, Lewisham, 4 of them also having been assisted in obtaining
dentures.
The two shelters previously supplied by the Borough Council were found
to be so much in demand that two more were applied for. These arrived
in November, 1926, and were immediately put into requisition. The four
shelters are loaned to patients, who are obliged otherwise to share a room
with other members of the family and who have suitable outdoor accommodation
for their erection. Two beds have also been supplied for use in the
shelters.
The Secretary of the Care Committee reports that the Care Committee
met 24 times during the year. Assessments were made for 231 patients in
order to fix the amount of their contribution towards institutional treatment.
Of this number, 69 were asked to contribute various sums from 1s. to 25s.,
the total amount collected during the year being £666 0s. 6d., for a total
of 107 patients paying towards their institutional treatment during the year.
144 patients received entirely free treatment. The Care Comittee was also
able to help patients with regard to their pensions and their insurance difficulties,
to arrange convalescent treatment, to supply clothing and to help
in various other ways.