London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Southwark 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]

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155
Suitable cases are allowed to "Colonise," that is to say, they make
the Colony their home, and if married they are given adequate accommodation
for their families.
Burrow Hill Colony, near Frimley, trains male adolescents between
the ages of 13 and 19. They specialise in two distinct courses of training—
(1) Clerical; (2) Horticultural. These patients may be kept in the
Colony for a period of up to two years and on their discharge, after a
complete course of training, should be fitted both physically and
economically to take their place in the outside world.

The following cases were recommended to the London County Council for Institutional treatment during the year:—

Adults.Under 15 years.
Hospital for Observation1810
Sanatorium17721
Hospital597
Convalescence35
Open Air School18

SPECIAL TREATMENTS.
For many years the treatment of tuberculosis consisted of rest, good
food and fresh air. Some 35 years ago an additional principle of treatment
was introduced, based on the theory of auto-inoculation. After an
initial period of rest patients were put on gradually increasing amounts
of exercise and work, the aim being for the patients progressively to
immunise themselves against the increasing amounts of poisons liberated
by the tuberculous lesion in the course of graduated exercise.
In the last 20 years, further advances have been made by the application
of surgical treatment of lung disease; and by this means to the
principle of rest to the body as a whole, is added the method of rest to
the diseased part. This process, collectively called collapse therapy, may
be attained in several different ways. The most widely used of these
operations is that known as Artificial Pneumothorax which consists of
introducing a cushion of air between the lung and the chest wall. This
operation has the merit of being simple and practically painless, but
the air has to be replaced at intervals owing to its gradual absorption.
Since the installation of the X-Ray plant in the Dispensary it has been
possible to carry out these refills on the premises, thus saving the patient
the inconvenience of attending both the Dispensary for supervision and
a Hospital for refills.
During 1938, 910 refills have been given to 57 patients.
Treatment by the injection of Gold Salts in selected cases gives good
results and usually reduces the amount and infectivity of the sputum.
Injections are given once each week.
287 injections of Gold have been given to 10 selected patients at the
Dispensary with most satisfactory and encouraging results.