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156
NON-PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.
All cases of Surgical Tuberculosis, such as Tuberculosis of Bones,
Joints and Glands, are sent by the London County Council to special
Sanatoria which deal only with this type of case.
On the completion of the Sanatorium treatment, arrangements are
made for patients to attend at an Orthopaedic Department of a General
Hospital at frequent intervals, or at the After-Care Clinic held at the
County Hall, by the Medical Superintendent of the Sanatorium at which
their treatment was obtained.
Cases requiring Actinotherapy are now referred for treatment in
the Solarium of the Health Services Department, instead of being sent
to General Hospitals as in the past. This scheme has the advantage that
it is more convenient for the Tuberculosis Officer to maintain supervision
over these patients.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.
Occupational therapy may be included amongst special treatment
for tuberculous patients who are not yet well enough to resume their
ordinary work. The object is to give them some outside interest by
training them in a useful hobby. For this purpose the Handicraft Class
was commenced at the Dispensary a few years ago.
The class is held each Tuesday afternoon and each Friday morning,
under the tuition of an Instructress from the L.C.C.
At the end of 1938, there were 18 patients on the Class Register,
with an average weekly attendance of 16.
The Woodwork Class, started in September, 1937, has made great
strides during the past year and is held each Thursday evening. The
voluntary instructor continues to give his services, and under his
enthusiastic instruction the men are now turning out most excellent work
and we are able to put on our sale market serviceable, decorative and
useful pieces of furniture. The men themselves find the work extremely
fascinating and the results from a psychological point of view are entirely
satisfactory.
In the latter part of the year another class was started for making
Christmas crackers. The patients worked well and enjoyed this type of
employment. Very creditable results were produced, the sales of which
were most encouraging.