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62
The Tuberculosis Officer visited the tuberculosis wards of the
Lewisham Hospital 45 times in the capacity of Consultant in
Tuberculosis to the Hospital.
There is a small class of patients for whom no adequate provision
is made—namely, the homeless individual, who is not in
present need of institutional treatment, but is unfit for lucrative
employment. These patients wander in and out of common lodginghouses
leaving their infection behind them. Hostels for these
patients, where they could be comfortably housed and suitably
employed under sympathetic supervision, are urgently needed. As an
example of this class, I would mention a young man aged 22,
suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis and unfit for work.
His mother died from pulmonary tuberculosis and his father married
again; then his father died from pulmonary tuberculosis and his
step-mother married another tuberculous man; so that he now has
both a step-father and a step-mother, upon neither of whom he has
a real claim. He has been kept in institutions since July, 1935, and
is now ready for discharge. A Borough Council shelter is to be
erected for him in the garden of his step-parents, but this is more
or less a temporary measure and he will probably remain a source
of infection as long as he lives.
Affiliated, and other Hospitals.—During the year, 121 patients
were sent to St. John's Hospital, Lewisham, for X-Ray examination
and report. Many patients are now treated by artificial pneumothorax
and, on return from Sanatorium, require to keep up their
refills for several years. During 1937, 112 patients received this
form of treatment, of whom 71 attended St. John's Hospital for
the purpose and 41 attended various other Hospitals. The cost
of this treatment is borne by the Borough Council. Light treatment
for lupus is given principally at the London Hospital, also at the
cost of the Borough Council. For laryngeal examination and for
surgical diagnosis some patients have been referred to King's
College Hospital or to the Miller General Hospital.
Sputum Tests.—The sputum of 412 patients was examined and
reported upon by the Pathological Department of St. John's
Hospital.